Kinship Care - the first choice for children

  Keynote address: Sir Martin Narey, Ministerial Adviser on Adoption   The Kinship Care - the first choice for children conference and awards will take place here on Policy Review TV on Thursday 6 June 2013.   With rising numbers of care applications and an increased scrutiny of their performance, children's services are undoubtedly ...

12th National Sure Start Conference

The vital role that Sure Start children’s centres play in improving the outcomes for some of the most disadvantaged families in the UK is well documented. But whilst public support has never been more strong; so too are the pressures of new legislation in tough financial times. As ever, Sure Start Conference and exhibition continues to be the essential event for all children’s centre leaders and local authority office...

Early Years Funding and Regulation

Broadcast from London

Childcare provision is moving into a new, more challenging, era. With new two year old progress checks, and parent and local authority budgets under pressure, this event will provide you with insights on how to finance and sustain early years’ services.

Recruiting foster carers: tackling delay #fost12

Broadcast from London

In September the Government launched a consultation process (to report in spring 2013) setting out a package of changes, including “fostering to adopt”,  to make the fostering process clearer, more proportionate and responsive to needs. This one day event broadcast is timed to coincide with the conclusion of the Government’s consultation process: Adoption and fostering: tackling del...

The Future of Adoption: Meeting the increased demand on the system

Broadcast from London

Through the publication of the Adoption Action Plan, the Government is introducing measures to reduce delays in the adoption process. These reforms include measures to check progress based on 15 key performance indicators (KPIs). But how will councils and adoption agencies need to adapt their work processes? How will teams hit these KPIs while continuing to provide the best care provision? &nb...

Inspection and Regulation in Early Years

Building the Strongest Foundation

  Early years’ provision is going through dramatic review and change, simplification and reform in the EYFS. Change in inspection and regulation is being designed to help drive the new focus on being ready for school. The government consultation following their response to the Tickell Review promises results in the autumn and implementation from September 2012. Changes in the focus of learning and developmen...

Sure Start 2011

9th Annual Conference: A new way of working. To be held at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel and Conference Centre, 4 -18 Harrington Gardens, London SW7.

#surestart11 The Sure Start Annual Conference and Exhibition continues to be the essential event for all children’s centre leaders and local authority officers, equipping attendees with the most up to the minute policy and best practice guidance. Challenging times require new ways of working to...

Young people with special educational needs and disabilities

Joining up pre and post 16 education; Learner centred commissioning. Held at Westminster Studio, London SW1

This national conference provided an opportunity for school and college leaders and heads of SEN and LLDD to come together with local authorities, third party providers and voluntary sector representatives to respond to the Green Paper. Expert speakers shared the latest information on the steps already being taken in a new commissioning landscape; how to ensure the right type and level of support can be given to every vulnerable ...

Addressing Youth Crime and Antisocial Behaviour

Time for a fresh start. National Conference held at Westminster Studio, London SW1

Set in the context of the Justice Green Paper this conference provided an opportunity for all those working in youth offending teams, police, local authorities, secure establishments, courts, probation to take stock and look to a future where prevention and early intervention are given a higher profile in tacking youth crime and antisocial behaviour.

The Development of the Moral Compass

When do young people know right from wrong and understand consequences? Results of a UK study among children aged 7 to 16. This was the launch broadcast for a study prepared by the influential Youth Research Forum for The Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development. This study of 750 7-16 years olds gives an in...

Services for Bereaved Children

Joined-up provision from care to counselling. National Conference. Held at Westminster Studio, London SW1

Bereavement services are moving up the political agenda, with the Palliative Care Review bringing funding changes for end-of-life and bereavement services in 2011. The Review’s interim report stresses the need for better integration of health and social care services, echoing the End of Life Care Strategy’s statement that care does not stop at the point of death. This conference focused on how the needs of bereaved ch...

Information, Advice and Guidance for Young People

National Conference. Held at Westminster Studio, London SW1

This conference brought together experts and leaders from schools, the further and higher education sectors, local authorities and all others involved in the provision of IAG to hear what the future holds for IAG.

Child Protection

9th Annual National Forum. Held in Westminster, Central London

This conference brought together representatives from local and central government, Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards, police, health, education and child protection organisations to discuss latest police and guidance, share best practice and encourage effective multi-disciplinary working. Supported by:

Inspection and Regulation in Early Years

Striving for excellence at every level. Held at 76 Portland Place, London W1

This annual conference brought together senior childcare and early years practitioners and managers from across the country to hear the latest policy direction from government.

Social Work Reform

Supporting social workers supporting children. Held at Westminster Studios, London SW1

This National Conference enabled delegates to prepare for policy changes over the coming months. The initial findings of the Munro Review were discussed and experts shared their success stories for reducing costs whilst delivering excellence in children's social services. Speakers included: Allan Bowman

Sure Start

Speakers included Helen Dent CBE, Chief Executive, Family Action and Jean Humphrys, Director, Early Years Development, Ofsted

This post-election conference gave delegates an update on the latest Government policy and guidance and provided practical advice to help centres to operate an effective and efficient service which meets the needs of the families and children in their area.

Supporting Young People Leaving Care

Ensuring transitions into adulthood and independence. Annual Forum. Held at The Bloomsbury Hotel, London

This forum provided the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field to understand and discuss current revisions, build on current achievements and share best practice with other senior representatives from the social care sector.

Educationally Supported Young People: Post-16 Transitions

Commissioning for LLDD, learners with SEN, hard-to-reach and medically ill learners. Held in central London

This conference presented requisite information on how local authorities, specialist schools and colleges, third party providers and voluntary sector representatives must ready themselves for the 2011/2012 cycle, whilst offering practical advice on responding to OFSTED commissioning reports.

Parental Engagement in Early Years

Working together to support children’s learning. Held at Inmarsat Conference Centre, London

This conference provided an opportunity to share best practice, network with colleagues and help improve your childcare and early years provision to meet the statutory targets from the Early Years Outcomes duty and also contribute to the PSA Delivery Agreements 10 and 11 and its associated indicators.

Safeguarding Children Forum

8th annual event. Held at the Bloomsbury Hotel, London

This event brought together representatives from local and central government, LCSBs, police, education and child protection organisations to discuss the latest policy and guidance, share good practice and encourage effective multi-disciplinary working.

Developing the Childcare Workforce

6th National Conference. Held at The Bloomsbury Hotel, London

The Government expects organisations within children’s trusts to demonstrate that they are working together at the operational level and directors of children’s services to gain more experience of operations. This conference looked at examples of co-operative best practice on the ground, helping local authorities and their statutory partners to meet these obligations.

Information, Advice and Guidance for Young People

National Conference. Held at Inmarsat Conference Centre, London

This conference brought together policy and decision makers, education leaders, governors, head teachers and careers co-ordinators to examine the new funding arrangements and obligations, the challenges in local communities and to hear how information, advice and guidance has a central role in building skills, informing parents and tackling the effects of the economic downturn.

Taking action for children:

Tackling deprivation through early intervention

Inspection and Regulation in Early Years

Held at Hilton London Metropole, London

This well established national conference brought together senior childcare and early years practitioners and managers from across the country to hear the latest policy direction from government.

Restorative Approaches

6th Annual Conference. Held at Grand Connaught Rooms, London

This annual conference provided an opportunity to hear the latest policy developments and learn from good practice examples how restorative techniques can help reduce re-offending.

Transforming the Young People’s Workforce

3rd National Conference. Held at Grand Connaught Rooms, London

This conference brought together local authorities and partner agencies, youth justice professionals and third sector organisations to address key issues affecting the development of the youth workforce.

Positive Activities for Young People

7th National Conference held in central London

This conference brought together representatives from local authorities, education, connexions, youth offending teams and Police. The event offered delegates the opportunity to hear the latest policy developments and share best practice and positive activities delivery with fellow PAYP workers.

Unlocking the talent of children and young people

2nd National Conference. Held at the Barbican Centre, London

This conference looked at the successes and lessons learned from initiatives such as ‘Find Your Talent’, and introduced new programmes from government and community organisations designed to unlock the talent of children and young people.

Sure Start

Succeed and Sustain. Held at The Bloomsbury Hotel, London. Supported by: Day Care Trust, Fatherhood Insitute, Action for Children, National Literacy Trust, Pre-School Alliance

This major annual conference gave all those leading the way in providing high-quality, diversified children's centres the opportunity to come together and share how they are improving outcomes for the Sure Start generation.

Youth Research Forum

Lunchtime Seminar hosted by the Youth Research Forum and Policy Review at QEII Conference Centre, Westminster: How Can Government Change Behaviour?

Many of the major challenges facing society and government require the active and voluntary participation of the people concerned, whether in their health, their education or their environment. The behaviour changes now required do not lend themselves to established levers of government. Speaker: Matt Tee, Permanent Secretary for Government Communications

Transforming Young Lives

Enhancing well-being through school-home links. Held at Inmarsat Conference Centre, London

This event brought together experts in children’s services, the education sector and local authorities to identify the key interventions that work for at risk young people and their families.

Meeting the NEET Challenge

Providing services and ensuring opportunities in the economic down turn. Held at Hallam Conference Centre, London

This national conference gave delegates the opportunity to hear the latest policy developments and discuss what the implications will be for local authorities, schools and colleges, social services, connexions and all those working to help young people find meaningful direction.

Child Protection

7th National Conference. Held at Jurys Great Russell Street Hotel, London

Children in the UK have been the focus of many reports in the media. Concerns for their physical and emotional wellbeing, in their homes, in care , on the internet and at schools have been discussed as well as fears of an increase in child poverty in light of the current financial climate. Fears that children might be at risk of overprotection have also been raised. This conference brought together representatives from local and central gov...

Developing the Childcare Workforce 2009

5th National Conference. Held at Hilton London Metropole

This conference brought together senior practitioners, politicians and commentators to discuss the future of the Early Years and Childcare workforce. Delegates learned the latest government policy and gained knowledge from best practice case studies from across the country. In December 2008 the Government published the 2020 Children and Young People's Workforce Strategy. This sets out the Government's vision that everyone who works ...

Transforming the Youth Workforce 09

2nd National Conference held at Jurys Great Russell Street Hotel, London

This second annual conference brought together senior politicians, managers and practitioners working within youth services. In ‘Aiming High’ the Ten Year Youth Strategy, Government promised to ‘transform facilities and support services for young people in England’. This event provided the forum to hear the latest current government thinking and explore the most up to date ideas on developing a workforce that can hel...

Positive Activities for Young People

Rebalancing the narrative - celebrating youth. Held at Inmarsat Conference Centre, London

For five years the Positive Activities for Young People conference has been bringing together delegates from local authorities, education, social services, the police, youth offending teams, drug action teams, Children's Trusts and other key stakeholders with a remit to help and support young people at risk of offending. This conference demonstrates what can be done in new policy contexts. It links back to the Ten Year Strategy, Every C...

Inspection and Regulation of Early Years and Childcare

Fifth Annual Conference - Demonstrating Excellence

The Childcare Act 2006 introduced two new registers, which will be operated by Ofsted: the Early Years Register (EYR) and the Ofsted Childcare Register (OCR). From September 2008 three yearly inspections from Ofsted became compulsory across all early years and childcare providers. According to Ofsted the iinspection will “provide an impartial, external evaluation of provision – designed to help improve quality”. This confe...

Sports Provision for Children and Young People

3rd National Conference

Following the success of the PESSCL strategy - which helped 86% of young people to participate in at least two hours PE and sport each week – the Government has set a new target as part of the PE and Sport Strategy for Young People. With additional funding of £755m the ambition is for young people to access five hours of physical education a week, both in and outside of school. This national conference brought together a large s...

Healthy Eating in Schools

4th Annual Conference - Increasing Take-up of Quality Food

New minimum nutritional standards for school food came into force for primary schools in September 2008 and will be applied to secondary schools in September 2009. Government has announced £650m ring-fenced funding for school lunches by 2011 to subsidise healthy ingredients and invest in training and in improving kitchens. The recent School Food Trust/ LACA survey showed the first rise in the number of primary school children eating s...

Investing in youth in the UK: a NEET solution

A CBI Public Services Conference held at Cavendish Conference Centre, London

Whilst 20,000 more young people are in education, employment or training in 2008 than in the previous year, statistics suggest that nearly one in ten 16 & 17 year olds is a NEET – Not in Employment, Education or Training. To help young people make a successful transition to adulthood it is vital that they are provided with high-quality services and guidance. Many need access to help, advice and positive activities in order for the...

Unlocking the Talent of Children and Young People

The Culture and Creativity Challenge held at The BT Convention Centre, Liverpool

This national conference focused on the Government’s “Find Your Talent” scheme and other policy initiatives which seek to unlock children’s talent through culture, creativity and the arts. In bringing together schools, children’s services, cultural services and the creative and cultural sector, the event looked at how to deliver the Government’s ambitions to provide children and young people with five hou...

Sure Start 08: Securing the Future

The national annual conference for children's centre leaders and partners - held at New Connaught Rooms, London

A further £7m funding was announced in March for extra children's centre outreach workers in the most disadvantaged areas as well as more training and guidance on working with black and minority ethnic families. This followed the “modest” but positive results of the National Sure Start Evaluation that children with access to Sure Start were better behaved and more independent, their parents providing better home learni...

Youth in the Community

5th Annual Conference held at New Connaught Rooms, London

Never before have youth services and youth work been given such a pivotal role in meeting local outcomes. The Government’s 10 Year Youth Strategy committed public services to ensure that young people are empowered to shape, and have access to, positive activities and high quality youth support services. With potential for new funding, local authorities in partnership with health, youth justice and the third sector have new PSA targets...

6th Annual Child Protection Conference

Held at the Royal Over-Seas League, London

With the introduction of several new safeguarding schemes in 2008 and the key commitments outlined in the Staying Safe Action Plan, the Government continues its work to ensure that children everywhere are safeguarded by supporting the joining up of services to realise the Every Child Matters Agenda. This conference gave delegates an opportunity to learn about the new Vetting and Barring Scheme and discuss what the implications of its implem...

Developing the Childcare Workforce

4th annual conference held at the Barbican Centre, London

As the government’s childcare workforce strategy moves from principle to practice, how are local authorities responding to the latest policy direction? Attended by senior managers in early years and workforce development, this interactive event provided delegates with an opportunity to hear key government policy, share best practice examples with colleagues and question leading experts and practitioners on challenges. Offering updates...

Transforming the Youth Workforce

Aiming High for Young People. Held at the Cavendish Conference Centre, London

A key event for those with an interest in building the skills and capacity of the workforce to deliver the Aiming High for Young People Ten Year Strategy for positive activities. Government has promised to ‘transform facilities and support services for young people in England’. This event provides senior managers in services for young people with a chance to hear current government thinking and explores the most up to date ideas...

5th Annual Positive Activities Conference

Empowerment Access and Quality - Diverting Young People from Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour through Positive Activities Supported by The National Youth Agency and Crime Concern Held at Cavendish Conference Centre, London

Includes delegates from the police, local authorities, youth offending teams, drug action teams, Children's Trusts, the Connexions Service and other key stakeholders with a remit to help and support young people at risk of offending. This conference shows how the ‘Aiming high for young people: a ten year strategy for positive activities' will be rolled out, and what support is available. Local public services, voluntary groups...

The Future of Inspection and Regulation of Early Years

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) becomes statutory in September 2008. Merging the Birth to Three Matters Framework and the original foundation stage, to cover care, learning and development in all early years settings from birth to 5. In addition Education and Inspections Act came into force in November 2006, increasing the duties on local authorities and giving Ofsted new inspection duties for children's social services, having ...

Healthy Eating in Schools

Britain's children have an eating disorder – and it's getting worse; 1 in 4 children in England are obese – double the figure 10 years ago. If future trends continue 1/5 boys and 1/3 girls will be obese by 2020. To tackle this, the government set a PSA to halt the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11 by 2010. Public sector watchdogs have warned however that the government will miss this target if it f...

5th Annual Sure Start Conference

Rolling Out Children's Centres

THIS IS A PODCAST AND DOCUMENT ONLY EVENT The 5th Annual Sure Start Conference, Rolling Out Children’s Centres, brought together over 150 stakeholders, including senior managers from children’s centres, local authorities, central government, and voluntary organisations. Sure Start has been the cornerstone of Labour’s drive to tackle child poverty and social exclusion. Its successes have been clear – it has helped to ...

The Youth Summit

The Youth Summit heralded a new era of service provision for young people with emerging priorities from the Government’s ten-year strategy for children and young people and the Comprehensive Spending Review. The event explored the Government’s ‘youth offer’ and mapped out the policy landscape for outcome-driven services for young people and their communities. It heard directly from a wide range of young people as exp...

Child Protection

This management briefing contains carefully selected video presentations, a detailed research index and supporting documents, including case studies. The briefing is an ideal training tool for senior managers covering the key areas of policy development, future strategy and best practice. The service enables users to access the material at a time and place convenient to them.

Summary This management briefing contains presentations from child protection specialists on best practice and future policy developments.  Effective child protection is essential as part of wider work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. However, all agencies and individuals should aim to proactively safeguard and promote the welfare of children so that the need for action to protect...