ECU Bulletin 2013 (20) 24 October 2013

Early Childhood Unit

Welcome to the ECU Bulletin 24 October 2013

The Early Childhood Unit (ECU) works to sustain and improve the quality of services for young children through direct work with children’s services and settings, and through its national networks. This fortnightly bulletin provides up to date news and information for the Early Years sector, including research, policy and resources.

Contents Policy Health and wellbeing ● Lucy Powell MP is new shadow minister for ● Gestation-specific infant mortality in England and early years Wales, 2011 ● Parliamentary question: Housing: Impact on ● Prenatal maternal depression symptoms and child development nutrition, and child cognitive function: research ● Deaf children and young people: Backbench ● Perinatal mental health report: Tommy’s debate ● Ambient air pollution and low birthweight: ● Daniel Pelka: Adjournment debate research ● Foundation years: Sure Start children’s centres: Oral evidence Ofsted ● Parliamentary question: Pre-school ● Early years inspections documents updated education ● Social care annual report 2012/13 ● Parliamentary question: Daycare ● Local authority children's services inspections and ● Parliamentary question: Children's centres outcomes ● Parliamentary question: Pre-school ● Outcomes focus for new Ofsted early years education framework ● Modern motherhood: essay by Cherie Blair Qualifications and professional development Practice ● Children’s nursery sector shows growth ● Early intervention focus for Northampton ● Children’s Partnership Knowledge Bank website council's children's centres ● Early Childhood in Focus on the right to play Disability and special needs ● Investing in Children tool ● Charities call on Government to improve Children and Families Bill Research ● Beyond an ‘Either–Or’ approach to home- Inequalities and disadvantage and centre-based child care ● HMP Holloway report: mother and baby unit ● Parents’ reasons for multiple concurrent ● State of the nation 2013: social mobility and child childcare arrangements in the years before poverty in Great Britain school in Australia ● Integrated early years services: a thematic Safeguarding literature review ● Child T: a serious case review ● Guidelines on prosecuting cases of child sexual Families abuse ● Live births in England and Wales by ● 2013 protocol and good practice model: characteristics of mother 2012 disclosure of information in cases of alleged child ● Commissioning for better outcomes in family abuse services : report Consultations Consultation responses Conferences

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ECU Bulletin 2013 (20) 24 October 2013

Policy

Lucy Powell MP is new shadow minister for early years Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, has been appointed as Labour's new shadow minister for childcare and early years, in the opposition's junior reshuffle. Ms Powell replaces Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, who had been in the role since 2010. http://lucypowell.org.uk/lucy-powell-mp-joins-labour-front-bench

Parliamentary question: Housing: Impact on child development On 10 October 2013 in the House of Lords, a question for short debate was tabled by Baroness King of Bow who asked the Government what assessment it had made of the impact of low-quality housing on child development. Speaking on behalf of Lady King, who was unable to attend the debate, Lord Kennedy of Southwark said that bad housing affected the health, education and wellbeing of children and undermined their long-term life chances. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/131010- 0002.htm#13101062000648

Deaf children and young people: Backbench debate On 17 October 2013 in the House of Commons, a Backbench debate on support for deaf children and young people and their families was moved by Sir Malcolm Bruce, MP for Gordon. He said: ‘I requested today’s debate because I am concerned that support for deaf children is being cut at a time when they need more, not less, support’. The debate included a discussion of support in early childhood and makes reference to a deaf-aware nursery as an example of good practice. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131017/debtext/131017 -0003.htm#13101777000002

Daniel Pelka: Adjournment debate On 17 October 2013 in the House of Commons, an adjournment debate on the case of Daniel Pelka was moved by Geoffrey Robinson, MP for Coventry North West. Opening the debate he said: ‘Some people say to me, “It will always happen—don’t worry about it. It’s bound to happen and you can’t stop it.” I find that repugnant. I cannot believe that Daniel Pelka, whose home was visited 27 times following domestic violence incidents, who turned up at school getting thinner and thinner, who was showing bruises and was clearly being maltreated in every other respect, needed to die’. The debate opens with a discussion of the importance of communicating with the child, and how Daniel’s age and the fact that his first language was not English should not have been prohibiting factors in engaging with him. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131017/debtext/131017 -0004.htm#13101777000003

Foundation years: Sure Start children’s centres: Oral evidence The House of Commons Education Committee has published an uncorrected transcript of oral evidence given on 15 October 2013 about Sure Start children’s centres. Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, gave evidence.

Foundation years: Sure Start children’s centres: oral evidence. House of Common Education Committee, 18 October 2013. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmeduc/uc364- vi/uc36401.htm

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Parliamentary question: Pre-school education On 17 October 2013 in the House of Commons, Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield, asked the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the (a) supply of and (b) demand for early years workers in each of the next three years. Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, replied for the Government: ‘The early years and childcare market is dynamic and diverse and we expect it to respond positively to a growing demand for places, including through the recruitment of additional high quality staff. We know that the quality of the workforce is a crucial element of high quality early years provision, and that teachers, or other suitably qualified graduates, are particularly effective. The Government is, therefore, taking action to raise the status of the profession and help attract high quality people into early education’. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131017/text/131017w0 002.htm#13101791000011

Parliamentary question: Daycare On 21 October 2013 in the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, asked the Secretary of State for Education what models he is considering for childminder agencies and organisations; and which childcare providers he and his Ministers have visited in each of the last 12 months. Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, replied for the Government: ‘The Department believes that childminder agencies will encourage more childminders to enter the market, support the training and development of childminders, make it easier for parents to find a suitable childminder, and further improve the quality of provision. Within the regulatory arrangements we will be putting in place, it will be for organisations setting up an agency to decide on their business model. Trials started in summer 2013 to explore how childminder agencies might work and the models which might be established. These are due to continue into 2014.’ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131021/text/131021w0 001.htm#13102135000017

Parliamentary question: Children's centres On 21 October 2013 in the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, asked the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the proportion of fathers who use children's centres and other services including parenting classes. Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, replied for the Government: ‘As part of the ‘Evaluation of Children's Centres in England’, a research project funded by the Department, a baseline survey of families using children's centres in the most disadvantaged areas showed that mothers were far more likely (96%) to use family services than fathers. CANparent Trial classes are of potential benefit to all carers in helping them engage with their children and build parenting skills. So far, 8.89% of the over 1,000 participants who have taken CANparent classes have been male. Marketing efforts in the summer to increase male engagement with classes have resulted in the proportion of men attending between May and September 2013 increasing to 12.5%.’ http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131021/text/131021w0 001.htm#13102135000018

Parliamentary question: Pre-school education On 21 October 2013 in the House of Commons, Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire, asked the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department holds on participation rates of children in early years settings (a) in London and (b) outside London.

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Elizabeth Truss, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, replied for the Government using data from Department for Education's annual Early Years Census and School Census. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131021/text/131021w0 001.htm#13102135000022

Modern motherhood: essay by Cherie Blair Leading lawyer and rights campaigner – and 4Children Patron - Cherie Blair has published an essay on modern motherhood as part of a series celebrating 4Children’s 30th year. In the essay, Blair identifies changes, including increasing availability of childcare, that have made it easier for parents to balance work and family life, with a significant rise in the number of mothers in the workforce. Yet, she argues, cultural assumptions about the roles of men and women, business and social arrangements have not caught up. She calls for a long-term vision for achieving universal childcare provision for all parents. Blair also argues that affordable universal childcare is an investment worth making because of the benefits it would offer to the economy and for family wellbeing.

Cherie Blair. Modern motherhood. 4Children, 21 October 2013. http://www.4children.org.uk/Resources/Detail/Modern-Motherhood

Practice

Early intervention focus for Northampton council's children's centres Children's centres in Northamptonshire are to target early intervention services at struggling families under a new model adopted by the council. Northamptonshire County Council has approved plans to remodel existing children’s centres as early help hubs and use libraries to deliver advice universal services offer under the current model. It will also commission some new children’s centres.

Children & Young People Now article: http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1119062/early-intervention-focus-councils-childrens- centres?WT.rss_f=Childcare+and+early+years+- +Disciplines&WT.rss_a=Early+intervention+focus+for+council%27s+children%27s+centres

Early Childhood in Focus on the right to play 'The Right to Play' offers short summaries of theory, research and policy issues that can inform the implementation of Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Section 1 is about the concept of play, the ways culture defines play in children's lives, the role of play within early childhood pedagogy and children's own views on play. Section 2 looks more closely at the function of play in supporting children's development, including social, emotional and cognitive benefits. Section 3 is about the opportunities and challenges for realizing children's right to play, including the pressures of early schooling as well as child work, and the implications of commercialisation and the growing place of new technologies in young children's lives.

Liz Brooker and Martin Woodhead (eds). The right to play. Early Childhood in Focus, 9. The Open University, Child and Youth Studies Group with support from the Bernard van Leer Foundation, October 2013. http://www.bernardvanleer.org/English/Home/News/Home-News-2013/Early-Childhood-in- Focus-on-The-Right-to-Play.html

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Investing in Children tool The Social Research Unit at Dartington is an independent charity that seeks to increase the use of evidence of what works in designing and delivering services for children and their families. The Unit has just launched a new tool - Investing in Children - to provide free and independent advice on the costs and benefits of competing investment options in children's services. The tool is co-sponsored by the Early Intervention Foundation. http://www.investinginchildren.eu/

Research

Beyond an ‘Either–Or’ approach to home- and centre-based child care Using the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Birth Cohort, the authors compared characteristics and outcomes of families whose 4-year-olds attend both home- and centre-based childcare with those who attend either home- or centre-based care exclusively or receive no non-parental care at all. The authors found that about one fifth of 4-year-olds attend both home- and centre-based childcare. Mothers’ priorities for care (getting their child ready for school, matching their families’ cultural background) and perceptions of good local care options predict their combining home- and centre-based care. Pre-schoolers score higher on reading and maths assessments, on average, when they attend centres, alone or in combination with home-based childcare, than when they are cared for only in homes, either by their parents or by others. Pre-schoolers’ average socioemotional outcomes generally do not differ between families who do and who do not combine care types. Implications for research and policy are discussed.

Rachel A. Gordon and others. Beyond an ‘Either–Or’ approach to home- and center-based child care: comparing children and families who combine care types with those who use just one. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, volume 28, issue 4, 2013, pp918–935. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885200613000549

Parents’ reasons for multiple concurrent childcare arrangements in the years before school in Australia Research suggests that multiple non-parental care arrangements may have adverse effects on young children, yet little is known about their prevalence, factors associated with their use, or parents’ reasons for making these care arrangements. This longitudinal study reports on 677 children and their families recruited from government-regulated childcare centres and family childcare services in urban and rural New South Wales, Australia. Multiple concurrent care arrangements were relatively common, with one third of children attending at least two childcare arrangements per week. Multiple childcare was found to be more likely for children who were older, with better health, or with employed mothers, and who were living in rural rather than urban areas. Results suggest that parents’ reasons for using multiple care arrangements were based largely based on preferences that were made in the best interests of the child and on convenience. The deliberate choice by parents to use multiple childcare arrangements to benefit their child challenges the assumption in previous literature that mixed care is not the parents’ first choice.

Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett and others. Family, child and location factors and parents’ reasons for multiple concurrent childcare arrangements in the years before school in Australia. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Online first, 10 October 2013. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885200613000896

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Integrated early years services: a thematic literature review This article reports on the findings of a thematic review of research literature about integrated early years services (IEYS) [1995–2012]. Four themes are discussed: broad support for IEYS; critiques of claims about IEYS; a focus on inter-professional practice; and the challenge of evaluating IEYS. The article concludes with reflections concerning how the evidence base for IEYS could be strengthened.

Sandie Wong and Jennifer Sumsion. Integrated early years services: a thematic literature review. Early Years, Online first, 16 October 2013. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09575146.2013.841129

Families

Live births in England and Wales by characteristics of mother 2012 This Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistical release presents data on birth registrations in England and Wales by characteristics of the mother, including age of mother, type of registration (within marriage, joint, sole), and mean age of mother by birth order. Key findings for 2012 include: nearly half (49%) of all live births were to mothers aged 30 and over; for first births the standardised average age of mothers was 28.1 years; and 84% of babies were registered by parents who were married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting.

Live births in England and Wales by characteristics of mother 1, 2012. Office for National Statistics, 15 October 2013. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/vsob1/characteristics-of-Mother-1--england-and- wales/2012/sb-characteristics-of-mother-1--2012.html

Commissioning for better outcomes in family services: report This report presents the findings of research conducted during spring 2012 by Barnardo's with local authorities and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in England. Using surveys, in-depth telephone interviews and an expert roundtable event, the research sought to understand experiences of family services commissioning from both perspectives. The report makes evidence based recommendations regarding the bidding process, contract terms, and working in partnership.

Jessica Cundy. Commissioning for better outcomes: understanding local authority and voluntary sector experiences of family services commissioning in England. Barnardo’s, October 2013. http://www.barnardos.org.uk/commissioning-for-better-outcomes.pdf

Health and wellbeing

Gestation-specific infant mortality in England and Wales, 2011 This Office for National Statistics (ONS) bulletin gives details of live births and infant deaths by gestational age and additionally by birthweight, multiplicity of births, mother's age, marital status (registration type), household occupation and ethnic group. Key findings include: babies born in 2011 had an overall infant mortality rate of 4.1 deaths per 1,000 live births compared to 4.9 for babies born in 2006; for babies born at term (between 37 and 41 weeks gestation), the infant mortality rate was 1.5 deaths per 1,000 live births; for babies of mothers aged less than 20 years, the infant mortality rate was 5.1 deaths per 1,000 live births.

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Gestation-specific infant mortality in England and Wales, 2011. Office for National Statistics, 10 October 2013. http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/child-health/gestation-specific-infant-mortality-in-england- and-wales/2011/gest-spec-bulletin-2011.html

Prenatal maternal depression symptoms and nutrition, and child cognitive function: research This research study aimed to test whether prenatal maternal depression symptoms predict poor prenatal nutrition, and whether this in turn prospectively associates with reduced postnatal child cognitive function. In 6979 mother-offspring pairs participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), maternal depression symptoms were assessed five times between 18 weeks gestation and 33 months old. Maternal reports of the nutritional environment were assessed at 32 weeks gestation and 47 months old, and child cognitive function was assessed at age 8 years. During gestation, higher depressive symptoms were related to lower levels of healthy nutrition and higher levels of unhealthy nutrition, each of which in turn was prospectively associated with reduced cognitive function. These results were robust to postnatal depression symptoms and nutrition, as well as a range of potential prenatal and postnatal confounds (i.e. poverty, teenage mother, low maternal education, parity, birth complications, substance use, criminal lifestyle, partner cruelty towards mother). The study concludes that prenatal interventions aimed at the wellbeing of children of parents with depression should consider targeting the nutritional environment.

Edward D. Barker and others. Prenatal maternal depression symptoms and nutrition, and child cognitive function. British Journal of Psychiatry, Online first, 10 October 2013. http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/early/2013/09/27/bjp.bp.113.129486.abstract

Perinatal mental health report: Tommy’s The charity Tommy's, in conjunction with Netmums, the Institute of Health Visiting and the Royal College of Midwives, has published research on 1500 women with perinatal mental health problems. Findings indicate that the pressure to succeed as a mother is a key contributor to developing prenatal or postnatal mental health problems. The study showed that symptoms among the women were severe: 43% did not want to leave the house; 22% had suicidal thoughts; 30% reported that their symptoms lasted for more than 18 months; three in four felt unable to fully tell a health professional, and 40% did not receive any treatment. Tommy’s have launched a wellbeing plan for women and health professionals to use so that emotional health during pregnancy is given the same attention as physical health. https://www.tommys.org/perinatal-mental-health- report?utm_content=bufferb3a80&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaig n=Buffer

Sally Russell and others. Perinatal mental health: experiences of women and health professionals. Tommy’s, 10 October 2013. http://www.tommys.org/file/Perinatal_Mental_Health_2013.pdf

Pregnancy and post-birth wellbeing plan. Tommy’s, 10 October 2013. http://www.tommys.org/file/Wellbeingplan.pdf

Ambient air pollution and low birthweight: research Research published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal says that exposure to even low levels of common air pollutants during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of babies being born small.

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The risk was even increased at pollution levels well below those deemed unsafe by the European Union. Babies born with low birthweight are at greater risk of dying in infancy and low birthweight has also been associated with asthma in childhood and decreased lung function in adults. The study concludes that a substantial proportion of cases of low birthweight at term could be prevented in Europe if urban air pollution was reduced.

Dr Marie Pedersen and others. Ambient air pollution and low birthweight: a European cohort study (ESCAPE). Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Online first, 15 October 2013. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600%2813%2970192- 9/fulltext

Ofsted

Early years inspections documents updated The updated versions of ‘Conducting early years inspections’ and the ‘Evaluation schedule for inspections of registered early years provision’ are now available on the Ofsted website. ‘Conducting early years inspections’ applies from 4 November 2013. It provides guidance for inspectors conducting inspections under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 from the time the inspection is arranged to the publication of the report. The accompanying evaluation schedule provides outline guidance and grade descriptors for the judgements that inspectors will report on when inspecting registered early years providers who deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Conducting early years inspections. Ofsted, updated 3 October 2013. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/conducting-early-years-inspections

Evaluation schedule for inspections of registered early years provision. Ofsted, updated 3 October 2013. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/evaluation-schedule-for-inspections-of-registered- early-years-provision

Social care annual report 2012/13 In its first annual report into social care, Ofsted says that one in seven councils in England is failing vulnerable children with ‘inadequate’ child protection services. The report states that there are twenty local authorities where standards are ‘unacceptably poor’ and the most basic safeguards against abuse or neglect are not in place. Inspectors found that a persistent absence of stable leadership was a feature of most ‘inadequate’ local authorities. In these weakest places, the most basic acceptable practice was not in place. Regarding the inspections of regulated services such as adoption, fostering and children’s homes, a high proportion were found to be good or better in the last complete cycle. Although Ofsted states that this is a fair picture of the extent to which these services have met minimum standards set by the Government, Ofsted is not satisfied that the standards are ambitious enough for children. As changes are implemented to the inspection frameworks for these services and Ofsted collaborates with Government on standards, it is likely to be the case that a focus on how services are supporting children may well result in less generous judgements.

Social care annual report 2012/13. Ofsted, 15 October 2013. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/social-care-annual-report-201213

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An additional release has been issued to provide the data which covers the period of the Social care annual report 2012/13 – 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.

Children's social care inspections and outcomes. Ofsted, 15 October 2013. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/official-statistics-childrens-social-care-inspections-and- outcomes

Social care annual report 2012/13 - HMCI speech: Sir Michael Wilshaw, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector gave this speech at Church House, Westminster during the launch of Ofsted’s first social care annual report. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/social-care-annual-report-201213-hmci-speech

Local authority children's services inspections and outcomes Ofsted has published inspection judgements for inspections of the arrangement of services to protect children for local authorities inspected between 1 June and 31 July 2013.

Local authority children's services inspections and outcomes. Ofsted, 15 October 2013. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/official-statistics-local-authority-childrens-services- inspections-and-outcomes

Outcomes focus for new Ofsted early years framework Safeguarding, safety and teaching are set to be the focus of Ofsted’s new inspection framework for nurseries. The areas to be prioritised by the new framework were outlined by Sue Gregory, director of early years at Ofsted, at the 4Children national conference on 10 October 2013. The framework comes into effect on 4 November.

Children & Young People Now article: http://www.cypnow.co.uk/cyp/news/1119081/outcomes-focus-ofsted-framework

Qualifications and professional development

Children’s nursery sector shows growth The children's nursery sector has grown more than the economy over the past year and its overall value is now £4.6 billion, according to Laing and Buisson's 2013 survey. The annual ‘Children's Nurseries UK Market Report’ finds that the children's nursery market grew well ahead of the economy in 2012/13, rising 2.7 per cent in real terms. It attributes the rise in value to an increase in demand for childcare, particularly a rise in the population of children under three in nurseries, which grew for the first time since 2007. The total number of children attending nurseries is up by 1.6 per cent and children are attending for more hours on average than in the previous year.

Nursery World article: http://www.nurseryworld.co.uk/article/1214915/exclusive---46bn-nursery-sector- outperforms-economy?DCMP=EMC-CONNurseryManagement&bulletin=nursery- management-bulletin

Children’s Partnership Knowledge Bank website The Children’s Partnership’s new Knowledge Bank website is now live. The Knowledge Bank aims to support the children’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) sector by giving access to useful sources of information, evidence, research and knowledge, including an overview of the current policy and legislation, statistics, research and practice of the key themes - Adoption and Children in Care, and Early Years and Childcare - as well as some cross-cutting themes.

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The website also includes the Children’s Partnership publications, including details on how to sign up for ‘Knowledge Makes Change’ – the fortnightly e-bulletin, and the monthly Children’s Partnership e-newsletter.

Knowledge Bank website: http://thechildrenspartnership-knowledge.org.uk/

Further information about the Children’s Partnership: http://www.thechildrenspartnership.org.uk/about/

Disability and special needs

Charities call on Government to improve Children and Families Bill In an open letter to David Cameron and Nick Clegg, the Every Disabled Child Matters Campaign (EDCM) has joined over 100 charities and local parent groups to urge the Government to ensure the Children and Families Bill will make life better for families with disabled children and young people and those with special educational needs. As it stands, EDCM is concerned that the Bill does not deliver on the promise to make the system less stressful. http://www.edcm.org.uk/latest-news/2013/october-2013/open-letter-to-prime- minister_children-and-families-bill

Inequalities and disadvantage

HMP Holloway report: mother and baby unit This inspection report found that HMP Holloway has become a safer prison, but still has work to do. Pregnancy and the care of children was a critical issue for many of the women held. The mother and baby unit was underused but decent and safe. Its environment was not as good as inspectors have seen elsewhere but the central location of the prison facilitated the mothers’ contact with their family, friends and community. During the inspection, one woman and her baby were released on temporary licence for the day so that they could visit her own mother; an important family contact that would have been much more difficult if the woman had been held further away from her home. Although health and social care planning for pregnant women was good, some practical matters were overlooked. Although its location helped, the prison did not do enough to help women maintain or rebuild positive relationships with their children and families. As at the last inspection, work to support prisoner’s families and help women with their relationships was underdeveloped.

Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Holloway 28 May–7 June 2013. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, 15 October 2013. http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/press-releases/hmi-prisons/hmp-holloway-impressive- progress-on-safety

State of the nation 2013: social mobility and child poverty in Great Britain In its first annual report the Commission warns that the legally-binding goal of ending child poverty by 2020 is likely to be missed by a considerable margin. It acknowledges that the Government has made considerable efforts and introduced a raft of initiatives to make Britain a fairer place, but does not believe the scale and effort is enough for progress to be likely. The Commission advises that the nature of poverty has changed and child poverty is overwhelmingly a problem facing working families, not just the workless.

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The Commission argues that the missing piece of the policy agenda is a comprehensive approach to tackling in-work poverty. The report makes many recommendations and the Commission focuses in particular on ten principal proposals. The fourth proposal includes a recommendation to reallocate Budget 2013 funding for childcare from higher-rate taxpayers to those on Universal Credit to help them meet more of their childcare costs. The seventh proposal urges the Government to create a long-term plan with clear milestones to make early years provision universal, affordable and of a sufficiently high quality, and to rebalance a long-held exclusive focus on institutional forms of childcare by doing far more to help parents to parent. Chapter 5 of the report focuses specifically on early years.

State of the nation 2013: social mobility and child poverty in Great Britain. Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission, 17 October 2013. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251213/St ate_of_the_Nation_2013.pdf

Safeguarding

Child T: a serious case review Child T suffered abuse by his parents and was once found to have had more than 50 bruises on his body. He was twice taken to hospital, on one occasion telling a doctor that he had been hit with a belt and a stick by his stepfather, Mr C. Child T, two siblings and his six- month-old half-sister were eventually taken into care when T was four. Mr C was sentenced to four years in prison in October 2011 for assaulting a person under the age of 16. This review found failings across several agencies. It details a weakness in following up collaborative investigations across police, social workers and medical staff, along with a failure to focus on what life was like for the boy and his three siblings. It also blames a reluctance to ‘think the unthinkable’ and recognise all the adults in the family as the perpetrators of abuse as well as a lack of alertness to the possibility of child abuse being the cause of T’s injuries. The authors refer to the similarities with the case of Peter Connelly, known as Baby P, who died in August 2007 aged 13 months after sustained abuse by his mother, her boyfriend and his brother. They add that the ‘list of concerns sounds like a textbook presentation of frequently-found weakness in the protection of children’.

Kevin Harrington Associates. Child T: a serious case review. Haringey Safeguarding Children Board, 10 October 2013. http://www.haringeylscb.org/child_t__full_serious_case_review_overview_report-2.pdf

Guidelines on prosecuting cases of child sexual abuse These Crown Prosecution Service guidelines are designed to set out the approach that prosecutors should take when dealing with child sexual abuse cases. They mark a fundamental shift in the way alleged victims of sexual abuse are treated. In future, alleged victims of abuse will be treated as credible rather than disbelieved. The guidelines replace the interim guidelines issued on 11 June 2013 and come into immediate effect.

Guidelines on prosecuting cases of child sexual abuse. Crown Prosecution Service, 16 October 2013. http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/child_sexual_abuse/index.html

2013 protocol and good practice model: disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse This protocol had been produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of Directors of Children Services, the Association of Independent Local Safeguarding Children Board Chairs and others.

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The protocol will come into force on 1 January 2014 and will apply to cases involving criminal investigations into alleged child abuse and/or Family Court proceedings concerning a child.

2013 protocol and good practice model: disclosure of information in cases of alleged child abuse and linked criminal and care directions hearings. Association of Chief Police Officers and others, 16 October 2013. http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/third_party_protocol_2013.pdf

Consultations and Calls for Evidence

Looked after children: improving permanence The Department for Education is consulting on a range of proposals which aim to strengthen the team around the looked-after child, improve the status, security and stability of long- term foster care, and strengthen the requirements for returning children home from care. Launch date: 30 September 2013 Closing date: 18 November 2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/looked-after-children-improving- permanence

Hepatitis C: draft scope for consultation The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on Hepatitis C for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope covers children, young people and adults with hepatitis C virus infection, and includes women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Launch date: 2 October 2013 Closing date: 30 October 2013 http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=folder&o=65354

Neonatal jaundice: quality standard consultation This National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) quality standard covers the recognition and management of neonatal jaundice in newborn babies (both term and preterm) from birth to 28 days in primary care (including community care) and secondary care. It does not cover babies with jaundice who need surgery to correct the underlying cause, or the management of conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia in babies. Launch date: 3 October 2013 Closing date: 31 October 2013 http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=folder&o=65381

Children’s attachment: scope consultation The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been asked to develop a clinical practice guideline on children's attachment for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The draft scope defines what aspects of care the guideline will cover and to whom it will apply. Groups that will be covered by the draft guideline include infants, children and young people (aged 0–18 years) who are looked-after or are adopted from care. Specific attention will be given to the children of parents with mental health and substance misuse problems and to the needs of groups at increased social disadvantage. Launch date: 3 October 2013 Closing date: 31 October 2013 http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=folder&o=65391

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ECU Bulletin 2013 (20) 24 October 2013

Draft 0 to 25 special educational needs (SEN) code of practice, draft regulations The Children and Families Bill, currently in Parliament, will bring changes to the special educational needs (SEN) framework, subject to royal assent. The Department for Education (DfE) and Department of Health (DH) are consulting on a draft new 0 to 25 SEN code of practice and associated draft regulations. Launch date: 4 October 2013 Closing date: 9 December 2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-0-to-25-special- educational-needs-sen-code-of-practice-draft-regulations

Consultation responses

NCB response to the consultation on the regulation of childcare On 30 September 2013, the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) responded to the Department for Education consultation on the regulation of childcare. The Introduction to the response states:

NCB welcomes the Government's intention in 'More Affordable Childcare' to increase childcare affordability, improve access through better use of after school facilities for older children, and develop a single set of welfare and safeguarding requirements for all childcare providers. However, we remain concerned by a number of the reforms and consequently propose in this response a number of recommendations:

• Local authorities should retain their Section 13 Childcare Act duty to provide information, advice and training to all settings; • The government should publicly acknowledge the value of the local authority’s quality improvement function, in complementing rather than duplicating the role of Ofsted; • The government should support schools to provide high quality places to two year olds by developing or commissioning best practice guidance, drawing on the evaluation of the Department for Education study; • Ofsted should establish secure practices for ensuring the suitability of premises, in cases where childcare providers register more than one location in a single registration; • The current ratio requirements for five to seven year olds should be retained, and two members of staff should continue to be required at all premises offering childcare, to ensure children’s safety and support their well-being; • The National College for Teaching and Leadership should replace the term ‘suitably qualified graduate’ with more specific information on the qualification that will improve quality and outcomes for young children, thus aiding employers in recruiting appropriately qualified and experienced staff; • All informal childcare providers should be obliged to sign up to the voluntary childcare register.

Additionally we would have welcomed recognition within ‘More Affordable Childcare’ of the role of the playwork sector in providing childcare provision for school aged children.

Download the full response at: http://ncb.org.uk/media/1076675/130930_childcare_regulations.pdf

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ECU Bulletin 2013 (20) 24 October 2013

NCB and SEC response to the consultation on primary assessment and accountability under the new curriculum On 11 October 2013, the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and the Special Educational Consortium (SEC) responded to the Department for Education consultation on primary assessment and accountability under the new National Curriculum. The response states:

We welcome the opportunity to respond to the consultation on primary assessment and accountability. As outlined in our response, NCB and SEC recommend that:

• the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile remains statutory; • the Government explores the potential of the EYFSP to provide a baseline for the measurement of subsequent progress; • the Government reviews assessment up to age 7, before introducing new measures; • National Curriculum levels are retained until new arrangements are in place; • progress measures are loaded for children working below age related expectations; • damaging labelling, including the term ‘secondary ready,’ and the use of deciles at age 11 are removed; • the use of Single Level Tests and the principle of ‘testing when ready’ should be considered.

Download the full response at: http://ncb.org.uk/media/1078699/131011_primary_accountability_measures.pdf

Conferences

Free Making it REAL training in Leeds: book now! Early Childhood Unit events. Our next free training events take place on Thursday 28 November in Leeds. Making it REAL training supports early literacy work with families by enabling practitioners to use the REAL evidence-based approach that reaches out to parents and families, building confidence and knowledge to support the early home learning environment: this has been shown to have a powerful impact on children’s outcomes and on family literacy practice. To book please visit www.ncb.org.uk/ecu/events. For queries email: [email protected] or call 020 7833 6807.

26 - 27 October, London Catch It When You Can: Early Signs and Treatment of Autism The School of Infant Mental Health is offering a free weekend course that provides an introduction to infant development and to early signs of concern with regard to autism. The second day introduces a unique model of working with pre-autistic infants, as developed by the Parent Infant Clinic. This free event is sponsored by ipAn – the International preAutistic Network (a donation to the charity of £20 a day is suggested). Further information and booking at: http://www.infantmentalhealth.com/workshop_october.htm

1-2 November, Birmingham The Early Years Continuum: Exploring and valuing high quality practice and research in early years: TACTYC Conference 2013 This year’s TACTYC conference provides opportunities for colleagues to explore high quality practice and research on the following themes: Professionalism, Policy and Practice; Moving through Transitions; Languages; Play; and Developing and learning.

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ECU Bulletin 2013 (20) 24 October 2013

Keynotes speakers are: Professor Vasudevi Reddy, Professor of Developmental and Cultural Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Engagement Matters: Another look at Infants and Other People - Haki Kapasi, INSPIRE, More is Caught Than Taught: the principles and practice - Jan Dubiel, Early Excellence, Potent Professionalism: informing intuition and challenging expediency in the Early Years - Trisha Lee, Make Believe Arts Helicopter Technique of storytelling and story acting Monsters and Superheroes: The Importance of Story in Children's Lives. Further information and booking at: http://www.tactyc.org.uk/conferences.asp

7 November 2013, Leeds More Great Childcare: Delivering World Class Provision Westminster Briefing Event. The two conferences, set in London and Leeds, will examine the Government's recent proposals for more affordable childcare, and focus on the practical implications of the proposed arrangements. The events will be delivered in partnership with the Family and Childcare Trust, and delegates are welcome from across the sector. Further information and booking at: http://www.westminster-briefing.com/home/event-detail/newsarticle/more-great-childcare- delivering-world-class-provision-london-11th-sept/?dm_i=77Z,1RIM0,ALFYTU,6AFIE,1

7 November 2013, London Transforming Early Years Settings: The New Inspections Framework Public Policy Exchange event. This symposium provides an opportunity for early years practitioners and providers across the public, private and third sector to gain a greater understanding of the new Inspections Framework and learn what will be expected of early years settings. Delegates will: understand the new Inspections Framework and increased expectations from Ofsted; examine how to demonstrate strong leadership, effective management and high quality provision and teaching during inspections; consider how to drive up standards in weaker EY settings; discuss how to ensure all children are ‘school ready’ and how best to monitor and evidence their progress. Further information and booking at: http://www.publicpolicyexchange.co.uk/events/DK07-PPE

13 November 2013, London Early Intervention Conference This conference is organised by Children & Young People Now. The 2013 programme features a line-up of speakers from government, social care and health services, the education sector, funders, advisors and academia. The focus is on planning, commissioning and providing the most effective early intervention services for children, young people and families. Topics covered include: the Early Intervention Foundation; using evidence to invest in early intervention; early years early intervention – addressing the root causes of violence, abuse and neglect; ten-year investment in babies and toddlers; and Family Nurse Partnership case study. Further information and booking at: https://www.eventsforce.net/mag/frontend/reg/tOtherPage.csp?pageID=3526&ef_sel_men u=74&eventID=10&eventID=10

16 November 2013, Oxford Inspiring children This conference is organised by the Oxfordshire branch of the National Association for Primary Education (NAPE). The conference aims to: empower practitioners to think creatively about young children as learners; develop an inspirational enabling environment; enhance their setting to offer adults opportunities to be inspired by children;

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ECU Bulletin 2013 (20) 24 October 2013

and consider the role of adults in facilitating children’s learning. Speakers: Liz Buckley, Di Chilvers, and Miso'shi Proctor. Further information and booking at: http://nape.org.uk/inspiring-children-st-johns-college-oxford-16th-november-2013/

25 November 2013 National Literacy Trust: Talk To Your Baby conference 2013 This conference explores the topic ‘Giving babies the best start: What we know works and what’s new’. Confirmed speakers include Carey Oppenheim, Chief Executive, Early Intervention Foundation and Professor A. Karmiloff-Smith, Centre for Brain & Cognitive Development, University of London. The conference will also present the latest findings from the first national early years survey. Further information and booking: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/events/102

25 November onwards Achieving Two Year Olds roadshows Achieving Two Year Olds (A2YO) is the national Department for Education support programme for providers and local authorities, delivered by Hempsall’s and Mott MacDonald. They are running free information roadshows for group settings, childminders and schools. A2YO roadshows are free and aim to provide participants with: ideas of what they could or should be doing to create places for eligible two year olds; guidance on how to work with the local authority to become a provider; and examples from other group providers, schools and childminders. Forthcoming dates/venues are: 25 November 2013 – Newcastle 26 November 2013 - Birmingham 3 December 2013 – Nottingham 5 December 2013 - Wimborne 6 December 2013 - Leeds 11 December 2013 – London Further information and booking at: http://www.hempsallconsultancies.com/a2yo

27 November 2013, London Therapeutic approaches to supporting foster carers Community Care conference on an evidence-based approach to supporting foster carers. Topics covered include: understanding evidence-based models to support foster children and foster carers; managing high-risk behaviours in children aged 3-17; establishing a resilience-based framework to support foster carers; supporting foster carers who receive allegations of abuse; recognising and responding to the risks of child sexual exploitation; managing compassion fatigue in foster carers and the wider looked-after children workforce. Further information and booking at: http://www.communitycareconferences.co.uk/fostercarers2013?cmpid=EMP|CONF|SCCON- 2013-0710-foster|6

28 November 2013, London Children's Centres Conference This Capita conference examines how to maintain high quality children’s centre services and improve outcomes for young children and their families in light of the new statutory guidance for local authorities and Ofsted’s new inspection framework for children’s centres. The conference offers input from the Department for Education, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sure Start Children’s Centres, Ofsted, and ‘outstanding’ providers.

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ECU Bulletin 2013 (20) 24 October 2013

The conference will be chaired by Hilary Emery, Chief Executive, National Children’s Bureau and expert speakers include: Deborah Nickerson, Assistant Director, Childcare, Special Educational Needs and Children's Strategy Group, Department for Education; Kathryn Townsley, Senior HMI, Operational Lead for Children's Centres, Ofsted; Andrea Leadsom MP, Chair, All-Parliamentary Group on Sure Start Children's Centres; Andria Holmes, Centre Manager, Fibbersley Park Children’s Centre.

Special Offer: 20% discount for Children’s Centres. Please note: discount cannot be used in conjunction with other offers/concessionary rate Further information and booking at: http://www.capitaconferences.co.uk/public-sector-conferences/childrens-services/full- conference/article/childrens-centres-conference-2.html

30 November 2013, London Developing Environments of Enquiry in Early Childhood Education Sightlines Initiative Conference at the University of London. The presentations at this conference will give accounts of creative work from Reggio Emilia and the UK in early childhood education. Presentations include: . Dialogue, Imagination and Expression in Reggio's pre-schools: Tiziana Filippini, Pedagogista, Municipality of Reggio Emilia . Early Learning in Nature: Sightlines Initiative . Inspired by Reggio: Reflections Nursery, Worthing . Environments of Enquiry in Key Stage One: Trimdon Grange Infant & Nursery School, County Durham . Developing Environments of Enquiry, EY learning group, Poole . Chairperson: Prof. Peter Moss, Inst of Education, London Further information and booking at: http://www.sightlines- initiative.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37&Itemid=28

6 December 2013, London Commissioning Children’s Services This Capita conference is timed to showcase emerging and well-established best practice in the integration of children’s services commissioning since the changes to the health and social care environment in April 2013. The event brings together key stakeholders from local government and their health and education partners to focus on effective partnership working, personalisation, early intervention and service user co-design in the delivery of quality children’s services. Further information and booking at: http://www.capitaconferences.co.uk/public-sector-conferences/childrens-services/full- conference/article/commissioning-childrens-services-conference.html

12 December 2013, London Making More Great and Affordable Childcare a Reality Family and Childcare Trust Annual Conference 2013. This conference, held in partnership with Westminster Briefing, will examine the implications for practitioners and local authorities of the drive to improve the quality and accessibility of childcare. The Keynote Government Address will be given by Elizabeth Truss MP, Childcare Minister. Panel sessions topics are: Affordability and the future of funding; Promoting quality in early years provision; and Flexibility and availability - taking steps locally to increase capacity and promote innovation. Stephen Twigg MP, Shadow Education Secretary will speak on the topic ‘The Future of Childcare under a Labour Government’. Further information and bookings at: http://www.familyandchildcaretrustconference.co.uk/?dm_i=77Z,1U2PP,ALFYTU,6N638,1

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ECU Bulletin 2013 (20) 24 October 2013

19-20 February 2014, Birmingham BECERA Conference 2014: Working with Diversity: Parental Participation in Young Children's Learning The 4th The British Early Childhood Education Research Centre (BECERA) conference focus on working with diversity and will be looking at how to get parents involved in young children's learning. The conference will explore questions such as: Are we prepared as early years practitioners to deal with this diversity in the best way possible? Can we communicate with the children's parents effectively and are we getting them involved in the learning process? BECERA is now asking practitioner researchers to submit proposals around this topic for presentation at the upcoming BECERA Conference in February. Confirmed keynotes speakers include Michel Vandenbroeck from The University of Gent, Helen Barnard from The Joseph Rowtree Foundation and Margy Whalley from Pen Green Centre & Research Base. To register, and for further information, visit the BECERA website: http://www.becera.org.uk/

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The ECU Bulletin is compiled and edited by NCB Information Centre. Any communications about the ECU Bulletin should be sent to: [email protected]

This bulletin has been produced by NCB’s Information Centre. The Information Centre publishes a range of alerting services to update you on new policy, practice and research in your field. It houses a unique and accessible multi-disciplinary library of books, journals and grey literature on children and young people’s social welfare, education and health, including early years, child protection, disability and special needs, play and youth justice.

If you would like to know more about our services, please visit http://www.ncb.org.uk/policy-evidence/information-centre email [email protected] or call 020 7843 6008.

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