local authorities

Report presenting the findings of a study of parental experiences of the special educational needs (SEN) assessment, statementing and Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) system. The goal was to gain a greater insight into perceived problems with SEN provision and to identify those factors which make the system work well for some parents and not others.

Presents the findings of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee which aimed to investigate the performance of the care system in England, consider whether the Governments proposals for reform were soundly based, and to find out whether the Care Matters programme would be effective in helping looked after children.

This is the report of an inspection carried out under the Children act 2004. The purpose of the inspection was to evaluate the contribution made by local services towards ensuring children and young people are properly safeguarded and to determine the quality of service provision for looked after children and care leavers.

The overall effectiveness of safeguarding services in Staffordshire was grade 3 (adequate). The effectiveness of services for looked after children and young people is adequate overall but with some good and outstanding features.

Report focusing on the issue of emergency accommodation for young runaways and making recommendations intended to help local authorities and other relevant agencies design solutions which will better meet the emergency accommodation needs of young runaways.

This news release provides statistical data on children involved in referral; the child protection register; inquiries and case conferences in Scotland for the year ending 31 March 2001. Statistical tables are also included.

Document that reports on the progress made since the publication of 'Managing the impacts of migration: a cross-governmental approach' in June 2008.

It announces a new Migration Impacts Fund, to be paid for by charges on migrants' visa fees, that will be available to local areas for spending on projects for managing migration pressures.

Report aiming to make a contribution to the debate on how best to educate children with learning difficulties by arguing that parents are the best people to decide where their children should attend school and laying out a strategy to make parental choice rather than 'expert' opinion the driver for policy.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK's leading research funding and training agency addressing economic and social concerns. They aim to provide high quality research on issues of importance to business, the public sector and government.

This is a practical guide about how to consult with children and young people on policy related issues. It is written for community workers, youth workers, teachers, local authority workers, facilitators and other organisations and individuals working with children and young people. It is also for children and young people themselves who may be involved or interested in organising a consultation exercise.[Feb 2008 - no longer available from Save the Children]

Paper arguing that some local authorities in England need to reconsider their attitudes to culture. It contends that culture is a public good in its own right as it contributes to important social goals such as encouraging a creative younger generation and keeping older people mentally and physically fit. However, research has shown that some local authorities fail to recognise this and treat culture as a marginal area.