News

“We are pleased that the Government’s strategy has placed youth services back on the agenda, and we look forward to working with them on the review of youth services guidance in light of the increasingly challenging context that councils are working in."

Figures reveal only a small number of eligible youngsters are taking part in the Government’s National Citizen Service (NCS), despite hundreds of millions of pounds of government investment.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the LGA's Children and Young People Board, responds to new Action for Children research showing that three-quarters of young carers feel lonely during the summer holidays.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, responds to the latest special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) statistics published today by the Department for Education.

"We need to develop a system that says yes to all children and young people, rather than no, when they ask for help. Children and their families need help and support right now - depression, anxiety, bereavement, and family crises do not wait."

"Ninety children a day entered care in the last year, and councils saw the biggest annual increase of children in care since 2010. "

Protecting children and helping them to get the very best in life is one of the most important things that councils do and it is positive that the proportion of children’s services departments rated good or outstanding has increased

Councils called for sex and relationship education (SRE) to be made compulsory in all secondary schools, and were pleased when the Government announced this would happen last year.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the LGA's Children and Young People Board, responds to a survey by the Family and Childcare Trust on holiday childcare costs.

"Evidence shows councils are better at turning around failing schools than those converted to a sponsor-led academy."