Daily roundup: Haringey Ofsted, early intervention guidebook, and term-time holidays
Neil Puffett
Monday, July 21, 2014
Haringey told to improve children's social care, major early intervention guide launched, and Nicky Morgan pledges to continue tough stance on term-time holidays, all in the news today.
Haringey Council’s children’s services has been given a “requires improvement” rating from Ofsted, despite inspectors noting improvements since 2011, when it was awarded “adequate”. The report stated that the welfare of looked-after children is safeguarded and promoted but the authority is not yet delivering good protection and help and care for children, young people and families.
The Early Intervention Foundation has launched an online guidebook to help commissioners understand what works best. The guidebook combines a search tool to sift early intervention programmes alongside guidance on how to implement the projects. It contains details of 50 programmes that have been successfully implemented in the UK, rated in terms of the strength of the evidence as to whether they have been effective.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has vowed to pursue a policy of punishing parents who take their children out of school during term time. Morgan told the Daily Mail that said the zero-tolerance policy on holidays during class time sends “a firm signal”. “From the Prime Minister downwards, we have made it clear that being in school during term time is the best place for children to be,” she said. “I'm really clear that will continue.”
Meanwhile The Leicester Mercury reports that 2,548 parents in Leicester have been fined for taking their children out of schools without the head's permission. In 138 of those cases, prosecutions were pursued.
Children’s centres in Northwich and Winsford could be axed after Cheshire West and Chester Council launched a consultation on the possible change of use of five centres. The Northwich Guardian reports that the council is proposing that the buildings are returned to community use to provide either alternative or complementary services.
Youth services in Reading are set to be moved together under one roof as part of plans to turn a town centre library into a community hub. The Reading Chronicle reports that Reading Borough Council wants to relocate eight services, including the Job Centre, Adviza and Reading Voluntary Action, from offices scattered across the town into disused space at Reading Central Library.
