Newsletters
Our Regional Improvement Plan can be found here
If you would like to apply to be a SESLIP consultant you will need to register with Kent Business Portal and once you are registered, log in and navigate to “Response Manager” and the link to View Invites and Responses. The relevant Access Code is KT59CT449W which will take you to DPS – SC240046 – SESLIP – New Suppliers. Please follow the on screen instructions
Updates
Children’s Information Project – Conference
On Wednesday 23 September 2026 the Children’s Information Project are hosting What does ethical and effective use of children’s information look like in practice? Learning from the Children’s Information Project
09:30 – 16:00 Wednesday 23 September
During the conference, we will:
- Share learning from research and practice development.
- Demonstrate how the CIP framework can be used to integrate data and lived experience and voice.
- Introduce the CIP website and practical tools designed to support and enable change in local authorities.
Ofsted publish new JTAI theme
On 4 September 2026 Ofsted (and others) published new guidance on JTAI of the response to younger children living with neglect
Response to younger children living with neglect
JTAIs are carried out under section 20 of the Children Act 2004. When applying this guidance, inspectors will take appropriate action to comply with their duties under the Equality Act 2010.
For guidance on JTAIs that look at other topics, see our joint inspections of local area services collection.
D2I – SEND Reform Support Offer
On Tuesday 22 September 2026 Data to Insight are hosting a drop in session to help with SEND Reform
There will be a second session on Tuesday 6 October 10:00 – 11:00
10:00 – 11:00 Tuesday 22 September
and
10:00 – 11:00 Tuesday 6 October
- Please join us for the next SEND Reform Support Offer.
- This is a chance for LA colleagues to attend and ask questions regarding the guidance document and seek any further clarifications.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
YEF: Live webinar 13:30 on 22 September
On Tuesday 22 September 2026 YEF are hosting a Virtual Learning Cafe: Children’s services practice guidance: Children-in-care recommendation
This is part of a series of sector engagement events following the publication of the YEF’s children’s services practice guidance in June 26.
Panel
- Tom Carter Ottens, Head of Change for Children’s Services, YEF
- Beth Peach – Principal Consultant, Cordis Bright
- Caitlin Hogan-Lloyd – Senior Consultant, Cordis Bright
- Samyukta Srinivasan – Consultant, Cordis Bright
- Dr Claire Fitzpatrick, Reader in Criminology, Lancaster University
Universal RISE: SE Attendance and Engagemnent Network
On Wednesday 30 September 2026 Southampton City Council are hosting the launch of the South East Attendance and Engagement Network
This project is led by Southampton City Council Education Services and funded by DfE’s Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) programme, connecting schools to the experts already making a difference in classrooms.
15:00-17:00 Wednesday 30 September
This session will launch the network and explore the attendance picture. Guests:
- Kate Richardson, Cabot Learning Federation and South WestRISE Regional Advisor for Attendance and Behaviour
- Edd Shackleton, Principal Analyst, Southampton City Council
for more infoprmation contact Donna Tandy Donna Tandy
Future meetings:
- 9 December 2026 | 3.00pm–5.00pm
Belonging, followed by regional best-practice sharing - 11 February 2027 | 3.00pm–5.00pm
An inclusive approach to improving attendance
Review of early deaths of care leavers
On 25 August 2026 DfE published ‘You really are on your own’: a study of the early deaths of young people who were in care
It examines all care leaver death notifications in 2025, identifying key themes and selecting representative young people for more detailed exploration.
Details
The report presents the stories of 6 young people, ages 18 to 24, whose circumstances illustrate the main themes and patterns identified through the review. The report identifies 3 key learning themes:
- being alone and readiness for adulthood
- the drop in levels of support
- workforce to help young people make the transition to adulthood
It identifies 5 broad areas for change:
- workforce
- improved support and awareness for those in custody
- supported accommodation for young people leaving care
- health services for those with medical conditions
- lessons learned following the death of a young person
Foundations webinar: Foster Care Practice Guide
On 17 October 2026 Foundations (What Works Centre for Children and Families) is hosting a webinar Strengthening foster care: Learning from evidence, practice, and lived experience
10:00-12:00 Wednesday 7 October
This interactive webinar will:
- Explore key principles and recommendations from the Foster Care Practice Guide developed by Foundations
- Showcase approaches including the Mockingbird Model and the award-winning Room Makers programme,
- Hear directly from foster carers about their experiences and the support that makes a difference.
This session is designed for practice leaders who are responsible for supporting and developing high-quality foster care practice within their organisation.
Law Commission Consultation on Kinship Care
On 8 July the Law Commission launched a consultation on Kinship Care
Closes: 16 October 2026
The Law Commission invites consultees to submit responses via the online response form. If possible, please use this method.
By email to: kinshipcare@lawcommission.gov.uk
OR by post to: Kinship Care Team, Law Commission, 1st Floor, Tower, 52 Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1H 9AG.
Foundations webinar: Reunification Practice Guide
On 10 November 2026 Foundations (What Works Centre for Children and Families) is hosting a webinar Reunification: learning from evidence, practice and lived experience
10:00-12:00 Tuesday 10 November
This interactive webinar will:
- Hear from a practice leader bringing learning from working with parents following removal of a child, highlighting how this can strengthen reunification support and services..
- Explore the key principles and recommendations from the Reunification Practice Guide developed by Foundations
- Engage with the voices of experience that the National Children’s Bureau listened to in developing the evidence review underpinning the Guide
This session is designed for practice leaders who are responsible for supporting and developing high-quality reunification practice in local multi-agency Family Help, child protection, safeguarding, children in care, and leaving care teams.
Regional Improvement Plan 2026-27
On 14 July 2026 SESLIP published our regional improvement plan for 2026-27
Headlines
The regional improvement plan has 43 projects and a budget of just over £2m.
The plan incorporates our delivery plan for DfE’s RIIA grant of £1.5m to SESLIP for financial year 2026-27.
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (July 2025)
On 4 September 2026 Ofsted (and others) published new guidance on JTAI of the response to younger children living with neglect
On 25 August 2026 DfE published ‘You really are on your own’: a study of the early deaths of young people who were in care
On 20 August 2026 MoJ published Turnaround Programme Guidance version 5
On 19 August 2026 DfE published School belonging and attainment at key stage 4: linked data study
On 13 August 2026 DfE published updated guidance for LAs on Care Leaver Local Offer
On 5 August 2026 DHSC announced Major expansion of community mental health support across England
On 4 August 2026 the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities published updated technical guidance on data submission for the universal health visiting service: 2026 to 2027
On 26 July 2026 FRG published an evaluation of Dorset’s re-imagining pre-proceedings pilot and a new journey guide local family justice areas
On 23 July 2026 CSPRP published Adolescent Suicide. The child behind the story:understanding cumulative harm through lived experience
On 17 July 2026 Moj published Consultation on the oversight and funding of youth justice services. Online response form
On 15 July Ofcom published Use of Age Assurance Report 2026
On 14 July 2026 DSIT published Children’s circumvention behaviours online
On 14 July 2026 SESLIP published our regional improvement plan for 2026-27
On 13 July 2026 LGSCO published its annual report 205-2026 on local government (including children’s services) complaints
On 9 July DfE published Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England for AY 2024-2025
On 9 July Foundations (What Works Centre for Families andChildren) published a Reunification Practice Guide
On 8 July the Law Commission launched a consultation on Kinship Care
On 7 July Become published Gone Too Far: How being moved far away puts care-experienced girls at risk
On 6 July 2026 DfE published revised guidance on local authorities’ recoupment of the education costs of looked after children
On 3 July DfE published the RISE South East Regional Plan
On 28 June The Bar Council published its Review of the minimium age of criminal responsibility
On 24 June Kinship launched its annual survey 2026
On 15 June DHSC published an update on Deprivation of Liberty following a Supreme Court judgment on 2 June 2026
On 15 June the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse published Implementing the Child Sexual Abuse Response Pathway: A guide for local safeguarding partnerships and regional safeguarding boards
On 8 June YEF published Children’s services and violence prevention – practice guidance for senior leaders in children’s services on how to protect children from involvement in violence.
On 5 June CSPRP published a suite of resources on Safeguarding children not in school