“An overhaul of children’s social care is long overdue. Vulnerable children and those from disadvantaged backgrounds have lower attainment than their peers. This is evident at a young age and early intervention is key to ensuring children are arriving at school in a fit state to learn.
“We welcome the funding for extra help for families but it follows a decade of cuts to support services such as Sure Start, as well as a pandemic which has exacerbated a range of mental health issues. School and college leaders witness the impact of this on a daily basis, often being left to pick up the pieces as the de facto fourth emergency service. Stretched budgets mean it is a challenge to provide the pastoral and specialist support that is often required to help vulnerable pupils. It is disappointing that there is no recognition of this in today’s announcement. A joined-up approach involving schools, local authorities and other services is surely the best way forward.”