Daily roundup: Academy schools, foster care, and careers advice
Neil Puffett
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Inquiry to assess impact of academies on narrowing the attainment gap; research shows children whose parents foster are supportive of their decision; and survey backs advice offered by National Careers Service, all in the news today.
The education select committee has announced an inquiry into the academies programme. It is calling for written evidence on various aspects of the programme, including the effectiveness of academies in narrowing the gap for disadvantaged children and the role academy chains play in the new school landscape. The committee is also seeking suggestions on alternatives to academy status for failing schools. The deadline for submitting evidence is 19 December.
Oxford University researchers have found that the children of foster parents are positive about their parents’ decision to foster. A review of international studies conducted by the Rees Centre for Research in Fostering and Education at the university found that a significant factor contributing to the success of fostering in families is keeping the children of foster parents involved in the decision-making process.
The National Careers Service is continuing to perform well according to annual survey responses. A report found that customers continue to rate the service very highly with 94 per cent of face-to-face and telephone customers agreed that the service was good, compared to 93 per cent last year. The findings contrast with those of a recent Ofsted review that criticised the advice offered by the service.
Injuries sustained by a three-month-old baby in the Isle of Wight were “predictable and preventable”, a serious case review has found. The Isle of Wight County Press reports that the review found social workers failed to assess the danger he was in.
Thousands of children are being forced to deal with the effects of problems beyond their control such as parents losing their jobs and family breakdown, says Action for Children. The charity’s report The Red Book 2013: Children under pressure reveals that more than half of children also need extra support for issues such as domestic violence and parental mental illness.
And finally, a survey by Netmums has found that two thirds of mothers say their children are exposed to overly sexualised music videos on pre-watershed TV and 73 per cent of parents now try to shield their children from such material. The survey also found that 82 per cent of young children repeat sexual lyrics without realising the meaning.