Vulnerable children in every school across the country will
benefit from a dedicated school leader to ensure they
attend and achieve, under new plans published today.
A consultation launched today will introduce changes to the
role of Designated Safeguarding Leads in schools so that
they have a greater focus on improving the academic
achievement of children on the edge of care, as part of
their existing safeguarding duties.
The proposals will specifically help children that
experience challenges outside of school, which may
contribute to poor attendance, poor behaviour and
disengagement in lessons. This includes sharing information
about how children’s circumstances are impacting on their
education and supporting school staff to find effective
ways of teaching these children and maintaining a culture
of high aspiration for them.
The plans come in response to recommendations from the
Children in Need review, and are
aimed at helping the 1.6 million children who have needed
help and protection from a social worker at some point in
the last six years. These children have worse outcomes than
their peers, and often miss out on education, being three
times more likely to be persistently absent from school and
two to four times more likely to be permanently excluded.
Children and Families Minister said:
We know that on average, three children in every
classroom need a social worker. We also know that far too
many of those children fall behind, which is why I am
determined to be ambitious for these children and ensure
they are seen, safe and able to succeed.
Teachers and social workers are some of the most
dedicated professionals in society, delivering for
children up and down the country. But I do not want any
child to slip through the cracks, which is why we are
consulting on having a dedicated senior leader in schools
to make sure schools know who their vulnerable children
are, set high aspirations for them and put in place the
right support so they can achieve.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is currently responsible
for coordinating the safeguarding of children, making sure
staff across a school understand signs of child abuse and
neglect, as well as referring concerns to children’s social
care when appropriate.
The Department for Education will also be consulting on
what is needed for Designated Safeguarding Leads to provide
this help, in terms of resources, training and support, to
be introduced from this September.
The changes come following a review last year, which
revealed children who need a social worker have worse
outcomes at every stage of their education which persist
even after social care involvement has ended. Children who
have needed help and protection from social care services
are 50 per cent less likely to achieve a strong pass in
English and maths GCSEs and on average two to four times
more likely to be excluded than their peers.
Dr Sam Royston, Director of Policy and Research at The
Children’s Society, said:
Children who are on the edge of the care system can
struggle at school as much as children in care, and it is
fantastic to see the government recognise the importance
of dedicated extra support to help them succeed
academically. It’s vital that this support focusses not
only on their grades, but also on their well-being and
personal development. This will require additional
investment in the pupil premium so schools have resources
to provide the right help. Support for vulnerable
children mustn’t stop the school gates and it’s crucial
that the underlying issues affecting their lives are
addressed as well.
