Fresh vision for early years
Seamless support and a ‘welcoming hub’ for families are among new proposals for ensuring babies and young children get the best possible start to life.
Children and young people
Child harm cases rise by more than a quarter
Serious child-related incidents reported by councils have risen by more than a quarter during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to LGA analysis of latest figures.
Ban on unregulated homes for under-16s
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson MP has announced that a ban on placing vulnerable children under the age of 16 in unregulated accommodation will come into force in September.
Children locked down in temporary accommodation
The LGA has warned that around 450 primary schools’ worth of homeless children are spending lockdown in temporary accommodation, amid a chronic shortage of affordable housing.
Helping disadvantaged young people
Councils can make a difference when it comes to helping young people at risk of dropping out of school or work.
Local youth services ‘need more funding’
The Government is to review its programmes supporting youth services in the spring, after announcing £100 million to deliver the National Citizen Service and invest in youth services in last month’s Spending Review.
Young people ‘missing out on full-time education’
More than a million young people in England could be missing formal full-time education, fuelled by significant gaps in education legislation, rising child support needs and a lack of funding, according to a new LGA report.
LGA: ‘Restore £1.7 billion early intervention funding’
The LGA has called for £1.7 billion in government cuts to early intervention funding to be reversed, as councils prepare for a surge in demand for support for children and young people who have “disappeared” during the pandemic.
A child-centred recovery
Local safety nets and early help services need to be properly funded to avoid children and their families falling into crisis
Funding for early help ‘critical’
As we re-enter a difficult period of rising COVID-19 infections, it’s a good time to look back at what lessons we can learn from the first wave of coronavirus for the delivery of services to vulnerable children and families.