Newsletters
Our Regional Improvement Plan can be found here
Our Impact Report published in March 2023 can be found here
If you would like to apply to be a SESLIP consultant, please follow this link to Kent Business Portal – KentBusinessPortal and after registering on the portal, search for Ref – SC240046 – SESLIP – DPS
Updates
New guidance on covert recordings in Family Law proceedings concerning children
On 24 May the Family Justice Council published Covert recordings in Family Law proceedings concerning children: Family Justice Council Guidance
The full report is here (pdf, 58 pages)
Headlines
President of the Family Division and Chair of the Family Justice Council, Sir Andrew McFarlane, says:
“This has been a growing area for the courts to consider with little guidance available. This guidance from FJC explores the issues and examines the consequences arising from the use of covert recordings by private individuals and sets out guidance that we hope will lead to greater consistency in approach.
“Whilst some covert recordings have been found to have evidential value, the secret nature of covert recordings can intrude on the privacy of parents, children and professionals, causing harm and often leading to concerns about the accuracy of the recording.“
Academic year 2024/25: Schools, pupils and their characteristics
On 5 June DfE publsihed Schools, pupils and their characteristics for academic year 2024/25
Headlines
The number of pupils in schools in England has decreased
Free school meal eligibility continues to increase
1.6 million infant pupils were recorded as taking a free school meal on census day
The average class size for infant pupils (reception, year 1 and year 2) has decreased
Child sexual abuse support services in England and Wales
On 23 May the Centre for expertise on child sexual abuse published Support Matters
The full report is here (pdf, 68 pages)
Headlines
Support Matters is a comprehensive study of the current landscape of service provision in response to child sexual abuse in England & Wales.
Overview of services for children and parents affected by sexual abuse (pdf,20 pages)
Overview of services for adult victims/survivors of child sexual abuse (pdf, 16 pages)
Briefing for funders, commissioners and policy makers (pdf, 16 pages)
Serious incident notifications 2024-25
On 22 May DfE published Serious incident notifications for 2024-25
Headlines
In the year to 31 March 2025, the total number of notifications fell for the second consecutive year to the lowest level since 2019; notifications relating to child death and serious harm also fell to the lowest level since 2019.
Transitional Safeguarding in youth justice and probation services: A scoping study
On 23 May HMIProbation published Transitional Safeguarding in youth justice and probation services: A scoping study
The full report is here (pdf, 48 pages)
Headlines
This research seeks the views and experiences of professionals to investigate how youth justice and probation work together to provide services to young people that encompass the six key principles of Transitional Safeguarding.
Accompanying this report, three briefings – aimed at practitioners, senior managers, and policy leads – set out further reflection questions, considerations, and potential actions.
Transitional Safeguarding – practitioner briefing (pdf, 12 pages)
Transitional Safeguarding – senior managers briefing (pdf, 15 pages)
Transitional Safeguarding – policy briefing (pdf, 17 pages)
Special educational needs in England. AY 2024-25
On 12 June DfE published Special Educational Needs in England for AY 2024-25
Headlines
Over 1.7 million pupils in England have special educational needs (SEN)
This is an increase of 93,700 (5.6%) pupils since 2024
Ofsted publishes its review of the current local area SEND and AP inspections framework
On 6 June Ofsted published Strengthening the area SEND framework: what we heard and how we are improving
Headlines
Regarding inspections undertaken, strategic governance is the most frequent area for improvement together with failing commissioning arrangements leading to gaps in provision.
Among the improvements it commits to are:
- simplifying the data inspectors ask for, making engagement meetings less frequent and more supportive, and
- specifying more clearly which member of the partnership should take forward areas for improvement.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
The Big Conversation NOW OPEN
The Big Conversation is the second release of The Big Listen,a workforce research project led collaboratively by LIIA and SESLIP.
The research includes a survey and a series of focus groups. Its purpose is to affect change with and not to the workforce. This is an exciting opportunity for child and family social workers, managers, students and agency workers to share their views and the greater the response, the more meaningful the impact!
Who should join?
We are launching our follow up to the Big Listen research that was completed in 2023. Information for social workers and managers about the project is set out in a poster.
We would really value your help in promoting this project to your children’s social workforce (including AYSE, students, managers and agency staff).
NOW BOOKING: Leading Change in SEND/AP
NDTi and The Staff College has opened bookings for Cohort 3 of “Leading Change in SEND/AP”.
Who should join?
2 x 2 day residentials in October and January at Warwick Conference Centre
2 x mid-course days
The cost of a place on the programme is £2,495 + VAT.
More details from hello@thestaffcollege.uk
Now booking: Women in leadership October 2025
The Staff College is now booking cohort 20 of Women in Leadership.
Dates
Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th October 2025 (In Person)
Venue
London
Cost
£895 + VAT
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (June 2024)
On 5 June DfE publsihed Schools, pupils and their characteristics for academic year 2024/25
On 24 May the Family Justice Council published Covert recordings in Family Law proceedings concerning children: Family Justice Council Guidance
On 23 May HMIProbation published Transitional Safeguarding in youth justice and probation services: A scoping study
On 23 May the Centre for expertise on child sexual abuse published Support Matters
On 22 May DfE published Serious incident notifications for 2024-25
On 22 May the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published a report on its Learning Support and Capability Project
On 13 May the Nuffield Foundation published Exploring racial disparity in diversion from the Youth Justice System
On 5 May DfE published additional working together to safeguard children material.
On 29 April the Domestic Abuse Commissioner published Victims in their own right?
On 15 April Nesta published Innovation in the early years – lessons from three local test and learn partnerships
On 8 April Foundations (What works centre for children and families) published a Practice Guide for mentoring and befriending care experienced children and young people
On 7 April the Children’s Charities Coalition published Children’s services spending report: A long road to recovery – Local authority spending on early intervention children’s services 2010/11 to 2023/24
On 7 April MoJ published Family Court Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2024
On 4 April Ofsted published changes to the Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF)
On 3 April DfE advertised for a National Safeguarding Partner Multi-agency Facilitator (LA Lead)
On 2 April FRG released A film for parents with learning difficulties and disabilities: working with a child and family social worker (YouTube 10 minutes 33 seconds)
On 27 March Kinship published Raised by Relatives: the experiences of Black and Asian kinship carers
On 26 March Mutual Ventures published a range of case studies and a good practice guide in relation to the DfJ Reducing Time to Family Court programme
On 20 March the DfE published The Families First Partnership (FFP) programme guide
On 20 March DfE published Pupil absence in schools in England data for academic year 2023/24
On 18 March Kinship premiered a A powerful short film revealing what growing up in kinship care is like.
On 13 March Youth Endowment Fund published the Safe podcast
On 11 March LGA published a case study of Coventry CC’s Reunification Project
On 11 March the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published It’s Silent: Race, racism, and safeguarding children
On 7 March the HoC Committee of Public Accounts published Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children
On 7 March NSPCC published ‘Disguised compliance’: learning from case reviews
On 6 March TASO published Pathways into and through higher education for young people with experience of children’s social care