Family & Community Government Policy & Strategies entries for England include strategy documents which inform current and future policy.
Keeping children safe in education (KCSIE) 2024
The DfE has published statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance for schools in England. At this time, it is for information purposes only, as full guidance will be published in September 2024.
Reform of children’s social care in England (515 KB , PDF) published 21 March 2024
This strategy proposes whole system reform of children’s social care in England. It aims to address urgent issues, provide foundations for whole system reform- which includes addressing service provision, changes to frontline child protection practice and utilising family group decision making, along with other changes. These include but are not limited to: addressing kinship care, establishing a children’s social care national framework and providing additional support for social workers.
Childcare workforce in England (588 KB , PDF)-published 29 May 2024
This briefing discusses the childcare workforce in England which includes social workers, care workers, early year providers and childminders. The briefing highlights the issues that are faces such as issues with retention and low pay.
Children’s Social Care National Framework (2023)
Statutory guidance on the purpose, principles for practice and the expected outcomes of children’s social care
The National Strategy for Autistic Children, Young People, and Adults (2021-2026):
This strategy sets out how the government will improve the lives of autistic people and their families.
School Sport and Activity Action Plan (2023)
This plain aims to improve the quality of PE and school sport provision, encourages 2 hours of PE a week, helps to ensure equality of access to sport for girls and boys and helps to increase the number of children playing sport in school and meeting curriculum expectations, including for swimming and water safety. The action plan will be of interest to schools, teachers, parents and the sport sector.
Exclusion from maintained schools, academies and pupil referral units in England. Statutory guidance for those with legal responsibilities in relation to exclusion (2023)
This document from the Department for Education provides a guide to the legislation that governs the exclusion of pupils from maintained schools, pupil referral units (PRUs), academy schools (including free schools, studio schools and university technology colleges) and alternative provision academies (including alternative provision free schools) in England.
The ‘guide to the law’ sections in this guidance should not be used as a substitute for legislation and legal advice.
- The document also provides statutory guidance to which head teachers, governing boards, local authorities, academy trusts, independent review panel members and special educational needs (SEN) experts must have regard when carrying out their functions in relation to exclusions. Clerks to independent review panels must also be trained to know and understand this guidance.
- The phrase ‘must have regard’, when used in this context, does not mean that the sections of statutory guidance have to be followed in every detail, but that they should be followed unless there is a good reason not to in a particular case.
- Where relevant, this document refers to other guidance in areas such as behaviour, SEN, and equality, but it is not intended to provide detailed guidance on these issues
Early years foundation stage statutory framework (EYFS) (2023)
The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.
The framework:
- sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well
- ensures children are kept healthy and safe
- ensures that children have the knowledge and skills they need to start school
This statutory framework is for:
- school leaders
- school staff
- childcare providers
- childminders
It relates to:
- local authority-maintained schools
- non-maintained schools (schools not maintained by a local authority)
- independent schools
- academies and free schools
- nurseries
- private nursery schools
- pre-schools/playgroups
- childminding
Stable Homes, Built on Love: Implementation Strategy and Consultation (2023)
This consultation is part of Children’s Social Care Reform 2023 in England.
Working together to Improve School attendance (2022)
Guidance for maintained schools, academies, independent schools and local authorities
This is guidance from the Department for Education. This guidance is non-statutory and has been produced to help schools and local authorities maintain high levels of school attendance and plan the school day and year. It would be helpful to read this alongside the statutory guidance on parental measures for school attendance and behaviour
NICE Guidelines for Looked-After Children and Young People (2021)
This guideline covers how organisations, professionals and carers can work together to deliver high quality care, stable placements and nurturing relationships for looked-after children and young people. It aims to help these children and young people reach their full potential and enjoy the same opportunities in life as their peers.
This guideline does not provide detailed information on health promotion or cover treatments for specific illnesses and conditions.
