30/09/24 – Useful Links

Interesting links, articles, news and blog posts sent out to members on 30/09/24.

Campaign: Fight for children in the SEND system – The British Psychological Society

September 2024. Find out about our campaign to address the need for more educational psychologists in local authorities, to make sure every child has the support they need to thrive in their education:

Link: https://www.bps.org.uk/fight-children-send-system

Report: Charting a happier course for England’s Children: The case for universal wellbeing measurement – Pro Bono Economics

September 2024. A roadmap is set out in this report, backed by a broad coalition of charities, young people’s organisations and mental health experts who are united in calling for the government to urgently take the first step of establishing a time-limited cross-sector working group to guide the rollout of universal wellbeing measurement. With expert guidance, the government can then begin to make crucial decisions on the details, such as the support needed for schools, the appropriate frequency for undertaking measurement, and the role of children and young people’s voices:

Link: https://www.probonoeconomics.com/charting-a-happier-course-for-englands-children

News: Doctors and dentists join calls for free school meals to improve children’s diets – Left Foot Forward

28 September 2024, Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead. ‘Every day, we see the devastating impact of poor diet and food scarcity on the health of our children and young people. This cannot be right, and your government cannot stand by while it worsens.’:

Link: https://leftfootforward.org/2024/09/doctors-and-dentists-join-calls-for-free-school-meals-to-improve-childrens-diets/

Open call for evidence: Improving the curriculum and assessment system – Department for Education

25 September 2024. Invitation to share their ideas for potential improvements to the curriculum and assessment system in England. This call for evidence is being held on another website. This call for evidence closes at 11:59pm on 22 November 2024:

Link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/improving-the-curriculum-and-assessment-system

Article: Schools able to bid for capital funding to run classroom nurseries from next month – Nursery World

25 September 2024, Katy Morton. From next month, schools will be invited to bid for a share of £15 million capital funding to deliver the first round of the Government’s plan for 3,000 school-based nurseries:

Link: https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/schools-able-to-bid-for-capital-funding-to-run-classroom-nurseries-from-next-month

Article: Schools invited to pilot breakfast clubs – Nursery World

23 September 2024, Katy Morton. Free breakfast clubs in every primary school in England will be rolled out from April next year, says Chancellor Rachel Reeves:

Link: https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/schools-invited-to-pilot-breakfast-clubs

Article: Child Maintenance Service ‘failing’ children and worsening parental conflict – Nursery World

20 September 2024, Katy Morton. The Child Maintenance Service is ‘failing’ children, overlooks domestic abuse survivors, exacerbates parental conflict, and perpetuates society’s gendered ‘breadwinner’ model of household finances, finds new research:

Link: https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/child-maintenance-service-failing-children-and-worsening-parental-conflict

Article: Councils creating funding cashflow problems for early years settings as hundreds close their doors – Nursery World

19 September 2024, Katy Morton. New research suggests councils are creating additional funding cashflow problems for early years providers, while at the same time, nurseries are being forced to close in their hundreds:

Link: https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/councils-creating-funding-cashflow-problems-for-early-years-settings-as-hundreds-close-their-doors

Article: Harm at risk of being normalised in maternity care – BBC News Online

19 September 2024, Nick Triggle. Many of the maternity failings at scandal-hit hospitals are becoming more widespread, England’s NHS regulator says:

Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgvl8l5q0xo

Article: Unlawful care homes ‘profiteer’ from at-risk kids – BBC News Online

18 September 2024, Sanchia Berg and Katie Inman. Unlawful children’s homes are demanding up to £20,000 a week per child and failing to keep vulnerable young people safe, the Family Court has heard:

Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crlrl0rkjr6o

Article: Relaxed ratios ‘harming’ staff wellbeing and making it hard for nurseries to meet children’s needs – Nursery World

17 September 2024, Katy Morton. Staff working in nurseries that have adopted relaxed two-year-old ratios feel ‘overwhelmed’ and are struggling to support children with their emotional development and toilet training, finds new research:

Link: https://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/content/news/relaxed-ratios-harming-staff-wellbeing-and-making-it-hard-for-nurseries-to-meet-childrens-needs