Update no 550 31st March 2023

If you have any news that you would like included in our Friday Update, please contact Richard Tyndall (details below)

Three children playing happily together

Newsletters

Our Regional Improvement Plan for 2022-2023 (July 2022) can be found here

Our Impact Report published in March 2023 can be found here

If you would like to work for the programme, ESCC has advertised the SESLIP Freelance Consultant Approved List. Please address all enquiries about this opportunity to Richard Tyndall (contact details below)

Updates

Consultation Outcome:

Regulations for supported accommodation provision

Consultation:

On 23 March DfE published its response to the consultation on proposed regulations and guidance for supported accommodation for looked after children (LAC) and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

New Ofsted Guidance:

Social Care: Common Inspection Framework published 31 March 2023

New Ofsted Guidance:

Revised Inspector’s FE Handbook and MAT “operational note” published 31 March 2023

Further Education and Skills:

On 31 March DfE published revisions to the Inspector’s Handbook for Further Education and Skills

Multi-academy trusts – summary evaluations:

On 31 March DfE published a revised “operational note” for Ofsted inspectors who are carrying out summary evaluations of multi-academy trusts (MATs),

New Inquiry:

Commons Education Select Committee launches new inquiry into teacher recruitment, training, and retention

Call for evidence:

On 20 March the Commons Education Select Committee launched a new inquiry into teacher recruitment, training and retention in state-funded English schools.

Submit evidence:

What are the main factors leading to difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified teachers? – submit your responses here.

You can submit evidence until 23:59 on 21 April 2023. Please read Parliament’s guidance on giving evidence to select committees before writing your submission (limit 3000 words).

NHS news:

Integrated Care Boards publish LTPs

CYP Mental Health Local Transformation Plans:

Since 2015 there has been a requirement for CCGs (and now ICBs) to publish an annual local transformation plan for CYP mental health servicesNHS England » Local transformation plans

Reminders From Previous Weeks

Reminder:

Future dates for network meetings

Network dates:

Lead Members Group: Wednesday 7 June 4–6.30pm. Expert Workshop #9 SEND: Developments and Difference. More from Deborah Glassbrook (contact details below)

Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board: 19 April 2023 (10-11.30am). More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

AD Education: Friday 16 June 2023 – 10am – 3.30pm London in person. More from Chris Owen (contact details below)

Network dates:

AD Safeguarding: Friday 9 June 10:00am. More from Mark Evans (contact details below)

QA Network: Thursday 15 June 2023 at 2 p.m. More from Amanda Meadows (contact details below)

Fostering Network: 24 April 2023 10-11.30am. More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

Data Benchmarking: Wednesday 12 July 2023 More from Alastair Lee (contact details below)

SEND SE19: Wednesday 26 April 2023 12:00 – 13:30 via Teams: Joint Conversation: LAs, Health, DfE, NHSE/I & NNPCF More from Sheelagh Sullivan (contact details below)

Early Help: 8 June 2023 10am-11.30am. More from Rebecca Eligon (contact details below)

Key Dates:

Stable Homes Built on Love – DfE webinar.

20 April 12-1pm

Consultation:

The DfE have organised a webinar to support the consultation on Stable Homes Built on Love. Please register your attendance at Eventbrite. The consultation closes on 11 May.

Activity:

Thursday 20 April 2023 at 12:00 to 13:00 Please register here for the DfE webinars on Stable Home Built of Love.

Publication:

Social work in England: State of the nation 2023

Further information:

The report provides an over view of the social workforce over the last three years (including the pandemic period). The full report “Social work in Enaglnd: State of the nation 2023” can be downloaded here (pdf 104 pages).

Programme:

DfE Safety Valve agreements for five SE authorities

Update:

On 16 March DfE published twenty new Safety Valve agreements, including five in the south east

Further information:

You can access the individual agreements here: Isle of Wight; Kent; Medway; Slough; Wokingham

Programme:

South East Memorandum of Cooperation on Agency Social Work

Update:

From April 1 2023 all 19 south east local authorities will be active participants in the regional memorandum of cooperation

Further information:

See the Memorandum of Cooperation page for more information or contact Mark Evans (details below)

Publication:

Children’s mental health services 2021-2022

Further information:

Findings include: the data that could be collected on children in inpatient settings is limited; how the average waiting time to start treatment increased from 32 days in 2020-21 to 40 days in 2021-22; and that children in inpatient mental health settings wanted earlier intervention to prevent crisis admissions.

The full report Children’s mental health services 2021-2022 can be downloaded here (pdf 53 pages).

Publication:

Curious not Furious

Update:

On 14 March Changing Chances CIC published Curious not Furious – a practical guide to supporting children and teens to take charge of their brains and behaviour.

Further information:

This book has been written by former SESLIP consultant Alison Rendle and Kit Messenger

DfE statistics:

Pupil absence in schools in England (academic year 2021/2022)

Further information:

The data align with the picture in local areas that persistent absenteeism is higher than pre-pandemic and is higher among disadvantaged pupils than their peers.

Tools & Templates

We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (July 2022) which will underpin activities while we await publication of the DfE’s reponse to the McAllister Care Review, which is anticipated in Autumn 2022

On 11 May the DfE closes two separate consultations: one on their proposed Children’s social care national framework and dashboard; the other on Child and family social worker workforce.

On 31 March DfE published revised Inspector’s Hanbook for Further Education and Skills; and a revised “operational note” for Ofsted inspectors who are carrying out summary evaluations of multi-academy trusts (MATs),

On 31 March DfE published revised guidance for inspection of adoption and fostering agencies:

On 23 March DfE published its response to the consultation on proposed regulations and guidance for supported accommodation for looked after children (LAC) and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

On 20 March the Commons Education Committee launched a new inquiry into teacher recruitment, training and retention in state-funded English schools.

On 16 March DfE published Pupil absence in schools in England (academic year 2021/2022)

On 16 March DfE published twenty new Safety Valve agreements, including five in the south east

On 9 March 2023, Social Work England published Social work in England: State of the nation 2023

On 8 March 2023, the Children’s Commissioner published Children’s mental health services 2021-2022

On 27 February Spurgeons Children’s Charity published a Family toolkit resources on young people and eating disorders

On 22 February, the Commons Public Accounts Committee published a report “Support for vulnerable adolescents

On 20 February The Staff College published Leading for Longer A report on turnover of leadership roles in children’s services.

On 7 February DfE published State of the nation 2022: children and young people’s wellbeing

On 2 February DfE published Stable Homes, Built on Love

On 1 and 2 February DfE published updated national results for Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5

On 30 January LGA published SENsational Story and Playa case study from Dorset Library Services.

On 26 January Joseph Rowntree Foundation published UK Poverty 2023: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK

On 17 January DfE published Schools commentary: the emerging picture from 2022/23 inspections

On 9 January DfE launched a consultation on Adoption support agencies: proposed regulation changes which closes at 11.45pm on 20 March 2023

On 16 December Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP (Minister for Immigration) announced a new pilot (and new funding) for UASC children

Contact Details

Data and Information Manager: Luke Ede (East Sussex)

luke.ede@eastsussex.gov.uk

07925 148597

LGA Children’s Improvement Adviser: Helen Watson (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

helen.watson5@icloud.com

07810 011892

Children’s Services Performance Manager, Convener Of SE Quality Assurance Network: Amanda Meadows (Hampshire)

Amanda.meadows@hants.gov.uk

03707 794752

Education Network: Chris Owen (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

chris@bright-spark.net

07825 862330

SESLIP Education Data Group Lead: Daryl Perilli (Brighton and Hove)

Daryl.Perilli@brighton-hove.gov.uk

SESLIP Consultant and LGA SEND Improvement Adviser: Deborah Glassbrook (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

deborah@optimisingpotential.co.uk

07882 158959

The Staff College Assistant Operations Manager: Ellie Bevis (The Staff College)

ellie.bevis@thestaffcollege.uk

0161 729 1065

NHS (SE) CYP mental health: Gavin Lockhart (NHS England (South East))

gavin.lockhart1@nhs.net

07879 488307

SESLIP Consultant: Isabelle Gregory (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

isabelle@firstcareconsultancy.co.uk

07931 586784

South East Grid for Learning – Consortium Manager: Krista Pickering (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

krista.pickering@segfl.org.uk

07872 014083

CSC Workforce, PSW and AD Safeguarding Network Lead: Mark Evans (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

Mark@markevansconsulting.co.uk

07803 147072

Regional Development Manager Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (SE Region): Martin Tuck (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

martin.tuck@hants.gov.uk

03707 793651

LGA Corporate Improvement Adviser: Philip (Phil) Simpkins (LGA)

philip.simpkins@btinternet.com

Adoption; Fostering; Kinship and Early Help Regional Networks: Rebecca Eligon (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

rebeccaeligon@gmail.com

07944 996219

SESLI Programme Manager: Richard Tyndall (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

richard.tyndall@richardtyndall.co.uk

07880 787007

S.E. Region SEND Network Programme Co-ordinator: Sheelagh Sullivan (South East Sector-Led Improvement Programme)

sheelagh.sullivan@outlook.com