Children and young people

The LGA works to support councils to help the children, young people and families who live in their areas achieve the best possible outcomes. This is central to councils' core role of place-shaping and enhancing the lives of people and communities. We all want the children in our society to enjoy their childhoods and to fulfil their potential as adults. If this is to happen councils have a huge role to play.

Content marked with a red 'M' is only available to you if you are from a Local Government Association member council and have registered on the website. You will also be able to use your username and password on other Local Government Group websites.

Latest news and analysis

• Reductions in area based grant: staffing issues

  Some staffing issues have emerged as a result of cuts that have been made this year to area based grants. The attached bulletin has been produced with Local Government Employers and React to clarify the position.

  Added on: 6 August 2010
  

• Education for young offenders

  Ministers from the Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice have taken a decision to delay implementation of the parts of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill until 1 April 2011. The attached note from the Ministry of Justice sets this out and has been sent to all councils.

  Added on: 6 August 2010
  

• The Department for Business Innovation and Skills launches 2 new consultations on skills and further education

  John Hayes – Minister for Further Education, Skills, and Lifelong Learning – has launched two consultations which will be important for the future of adult and community learning and other aspects of further education in England.

  Added on: 29 July 2010
  

• Changes to the funding arrangements for 16 – 19 education - briefing

  Following Michael Gove’s announcement of changes to 16-19 funding on 19 July, the LGA has produced the attached joint briefing with ADCS and React with the latest news on what the changes will mean for councils.

  Added on: 22 July 2010
  

• More local influence will free schools from acres of small print

  Schools have faced new rules or guidelines every other school day over the past decade, according to new research. The LGA’s report, “Local freedom or central control?”, proposes a series of principles to explain why the education system cannot be run from the centre.

  Added on: 7 July 2010
  

• The Impact of the Baby Peter Case on Applications for Care Orders

  Following the death of Baby Peter Connelly in August 2007, the government took steps to review the effectiveness of arrangements for safeguarding children in England, which led to the publication of the Laming Review in March 2009. The LGA commissioned the NfER to look at the impact of the case of Baby Peter Connelly on local authorities’ applications for care orders and child protection more widely.

  Added on: 24 June 2010
  

• Children and Young People Bulletin - April 2010

  A regular round-up of news and information relating to Children and Young People

  Added on: 28 April 2010
  

• Evaluation of the Children in Trouble Programme

  The Children in Trouble programme is a joint project supported by LGA and the Howard League for Penal Reform and sets out to encourage, develop and showcase different approaches to reducing the use of custodial sentences. This report documents the programme’s achievements and challenges following an evaluation by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER).

  Added on: 13 April 2010
  

• Supporting ambition in our young people - councils and young people aged 14–19

  This aim of this report is to show how councils will use this transfer of power and funding from the national level to make sure that all the young people in their area are given the opportunity to pursue their ambitions and fulfill their potential. It also gives practical examples of what councils up and down the country are already doing to make this a reality.

  Added on: 17 June 2010
  

• Working Together to Safeguard Children

  The LGA’s response to the government’s Working Together to Safeguard Children consultation expresses concerns about the ability of councils to deliver improvements in safeguarding practice at a time when they face severe challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified and experienced staff able to implement improvements.

  Added on: 26 February 2010
  

• National Commissioning Framework - LGA/ADCS consultation response

  Read the joint response between the LGA and ADCS Services who strongly support the transfer to local councils of responsibility for planning and commissioning learning for young people.

  Added on: 11 February 2010
  

• National Children and Adult Services Conference 2009

  Margaret Eaton, Chair of the LGA, gives an overview of the National Children and Adult Services Conference 2009. Watch the podcast.

  Added on: 12 July 2010
  

• A fifth of councils struggling on school places

  The recession is being blamed for an increased pressure on school places in the last six months by almost one in five councils, new figures released by the Local Government Association have shown, and a further 13% of councils expect the economic downturn to lead to higher demand in the future.

  Added on: 15 July 2009