Publications

This briefing provides top tips, helpful resources and case studies from seven councils, showcasing just a small selection of positive approaches going on across the country.

This report details an analysis by the LGA Research and Information team to try to explain why some councils spend more on children’s services per young person than others.

Findings from the LGA’s peer learning programme.

A resource to help all councillors to better understand their own local offer and how they can look at the role of evidence in developing and improving early help services.

Councils, schools, colleges and health services must work together to support children and young people with special needs and disabilities.

Councils have a statutory duty to “secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient provision of educational and recreational leisure-time activities for young people” and to make sure young people have a say in the local offer.

Despite considerable changes in national education policy and school organisation over recent years, councils retain the bulk of their statutory duties. They have a key role as champions of educational excellence for all children and young people in their areas.

Councils have a major role in ensuring your parents get the help they need, whether it is through the services they commission or deliver. Health visitors, family nurse partnerships, early years, children’s centres, youth services and the voluntary sector all have a key role to play.

Councils are, in many ways, just at the beginning of this journey to curb violent crime with growing evidence that the key is a ‘public health approach’ – treating it as a disease that can be cured. By working together with our local partners we can make a difference.

As lead member you hold political responsibility for the leadership, strategy and effectiveness of council children’s services and will work closely with the director of children’s services (DCS) who carries the professional accountability.