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Having had the privilege of reading many insightful blogs from influential leaders in the sector over the years, as a recently Elected Director on the Board of Directors for ADCS, I find myself both honoured and slightly apprehensive now it is my turn to contribute. So, here we go…

Key children’s services challenges to shape next ADCS presidency

Analysis

Monday, April 29, 2024

| CYP Now

The new president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services Andy Smith identifies tackling social care reforms, workforce pressures and demand for SEND support as priorities for his year in office.

Call to put schools at the heart of mental health and wellbeing plan

Analysis

Monday, April 29, 2024

| CYP Now

Report by think-tank says next government should expand the reach and remit of mental health support teams so they provide advice and guidance to all pupils to prevent emerging problems from escalating.

Kinship foster care ‘not explored as an option’ for most children, research warns

News

Monday, April 29, 2024

| CYP Now

Kinship foster care – where a child is fostered by a family friend or relative – is “too infrequently explored” across England and Wales as an option for children in care, new government data suggests.

Thinking differently to support children and young people’s mental health

Blogs

Monday, April 29, 2024

| CYP Now

Solutions that address the entire system are rare. Policies typically address immediate priorities and urgent needs, leaving the long-term, systemic issues unresolved.

Expansion of PAVA ignites debate on youth custody force and restraint

Analysis

Monday, April 29, 2024

| CYP Now

The UK government’s consideration of expanding the use of PAVA spray – a chemical irritant legally used in adult prisons – into child establishments has ignited a contentious debate.

Longfield think-tank calls for expansion of school mental health support teams

News

Monday, April 29, 2024

| CYP Now

Former children's commissioner for England Anne Longfield has called for an expansion of mental health support offered in schools as data shows 1.4mn children in England now have a probable mental health condition.

Speaking out about care experience

Blogs

Monday, April 29, 2024

| CYP Now

The time has come, we are out there.

British Youth Council: five factors for demise of youth voice stalwart

Analysis

Monday, April 29, 2024

| CYP Now

The British Youth Council had been at the forefront of the youth movement for 75 years, but in recent times was unable to weather a perfect storm of internal and external pressures that led to it becoming unsustainable.

School mental health plans need an update

Opinion

Sunday, April 28, 2024

| CYP Now

The idea for mental health support teams (MHSTs) to bridge the gap between school counselling services and specialist therapeutic support in the community came out of the children’s mental health green paper published in 2017 by Theresa May’s government. Plans to introduce MHSTs in a third of schools and colleges by 2023 and to half by 2025 were confirmed the following summer.

Funded childcare should prioritise quality

Opinion

Sunday, April 28, 2024

| CYP Now

In the ever-evolving landscape of early years education, a pressing issue looms large: the 30-hour funding policy and its repercussions.

Youth justice diversion schemes ‘not fit’ for children with SEND

News

Friday, April 26, 2024

| CYP Now

The process for diverting young people away from the criminal justice system is “not fit” for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), research warns.

Alliance for Youth Justice chief steps down

News

Friday, April 26, 2024

| CYP Now

Pippa Goodfellow, chief executive of the Alliance for Youth Justice (AYJ), has stepped down after five years.

Report slams ‘significant lack’ of government action to tackle root cause of school absences

News

Thursday, April 25, 2024

| CYP Now

Mental health experts have criticised a lack of action by the government to tackle underlying issues behind persistent school absences such as poor emotional wellbeing and poverty.

DfE launches new advisory group on children’s social care ‘profiteering’

News

Thursday, April 25, 2024

| CYP Now

The former director of children’s services for Hampshire and Isle of Wight councils will lead a Department for Education advisory group on the profiteering of private companies from children’s social care.