Children & Young People Bulletin: March 2023

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Children & Young People Bulletin

March 2023

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Stories


Spring Budget – early years education and childcare

The Spring Budget announced that early years funded entitlements will be expanded to children of working parents from 9 months, with the same conditions for the current entitlements for 3 and 4 year olds. The Department for Education has committed to engage with stakeholders to deliver on this expansion and have recognised the significant impact this will have on local authorities. Further information is available regarding the proposed uplifts for the entitlements.

Supported accommodation for 16-17 year old children in care and care leavers

The Government has published a response to the Department for Education (DfE) consultation on regulating supported accommodation for looked after children and care leavers aged 16 and 17.

The response confirms the Government’s intention that all supported accommodation providers for looked after 16- and 17-year-olds will be required to register with Ofsted and meet standards from October 2023.

The proposals set out key features of an Ofsted regulatory regime, including enforcement powers and offence provisions, such as right of entry powers and the prosecution of providers who do not register. The response also outlines the standards that providers will have to follow, covering physical surroundings of homes, as well as how children are kept safe and the mental and emotional support they should be given.

The DfE have confirmed £142 million in funding over three years, including £123 million to support councils with the reforms. It is important that all children in care live in good quality homes that meet their needs and help them to thrive however, we continue to call for children’s social care services to be fully funded so that all children in care and care leavers can receive the support they need to thrive into adulthood.

Anna Freud Centre – Understanding treatment options

The Anna Freud Centre has launched ‘Understanding treatment options’ a digital one-stop shop that lists the effective treatment options for young people with a range of mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. Co-produced by clinical professionals and young people themselves, these webpages give 12–17 year olds (and younger children with adult support) - as well as their parents and carers - a guide to the treatment options that are proven to be most effective.


Events


National Children and Adult Services Conference 2023 | 29 November – 1 December 2023 | Bournemouth

Bookings are open for #ncasc23. 

The National Children and Adult Services Conference is a must-attend event for councillors, directors, senior officers, directors of public health, policy makers and service managers, and any individuals or organisations with responsibilities for children and adult services in the statutory, voluntary and private sector. Join us to hear about and respond to the very latest thinking on key policy and improvement agendas in social care, children’s services, education, health and related fields.

To book and to find out more, please visit the conference website.


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