Rotherham council leader Roger Stone has resigned following strong criticism of the authority’s leadership in a report commissioned to examine sexual abuse of young children in the area between 1997...
Councils’ spending on looked-after children rose by 4% in the four years to the end of 2012/13, despite a 12% increase in the number of children they are responsible for over the same period, Audit...
A programme to support troubled families has been expanded to help vulnerable younger children get a better start in life, the government announced today.
A programme supporting families facing multiple problems will be expanded by more than four times to help some 500,000 households, the government announced today.
Children’s mental health services need a complete overhaul to address ‘unacceptable failings’ and provide better care and support for young people, councils have said today.
Low-income families are struggling to find good quality, affordable and flexible childcare providers, the Citizens Advice has said today as it called for councils to be given a stronger oversight...
A think-tank has called on the government to provide parents who work at least 20 hours a week with up to 25 hours of free early education for their pre-school children.
All families should be given government help towards their childcare costs in a bid to encourage more mothers back to work, according to recommendations from the Institute for Public Policy Research.
Public service inspectorates are seeking views on how they can work together to assess what local agencies are doing to help children and young people.
The Department for Work and Pensions has successfully introduced its new scheme for child maintenance payments, but its savings target could be at risk if the number of parents intending to reach...
Ofsted’s revised inspection criteria for children’s services is succeeding in shifting assessments on to the experiences of children, young people and families, according to an independent expert...
Involving users in public service delivery could unlock billions of pounds in savings, a report by the government’s reviewer of public service choice has concluded.
Councils have been urged to ‘reclaim’ children’s services provision from control by Whitehall departments and inspectors so town halls can act as the local champions of the interests of children,...
Councils must step up their efforts to make sure the needs of looked-after children living far away from their family, friends and communities are met, Ofsted said today.
A report by the Scottish Parliament’s in-house research unit has cast serious doubt on the financial assumptions underpinning Alex Salmond’s promise of a ‘transformative’ expansion in childcare...
The expected announcement by the chancellor in today's Budget on extra support for childcare costs is welcome. But we must not lose sight of the quality issues
Ministers have announced an increase in the amount of money that the government will provide to subsidise childcare as part of Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget
Many of the school inspectors used by education watchdog Ofsted lack the skills and experience to do the job effectively now the government has given greater independence to schools, a think-tank has...
Free or more affordable childcare would boost the number of mothers in the workforce and help reduce the gender pay gap, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research
Childcare is edging its way up the political agenda, with all parties making offers on improved support. But they miss the point about the quality of care, pay in the sector and universal need
