Play the way to a happy, safe childhood

Last week, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services – the national leadership association for statutory directors of children’s services in England – was thrust into the headlines following the release of its report Childhood Matters.

An update to its 2017 policy paper A country that works for all children, the report provides a bleak overview of the Westminster Government’s treatment of children and young people in England:

“All too often it seems that where investment in children’s futures is needed, the bare minimum is on offer, whether that’s to repair or rebuild school buildings or support children to recover from the pandemic experience”

Some headline recommendations of the report – identified by ADCS members – include:

Cross-government plan for childhood coordinated by the Cabinet Office;
Sustainable multi-year funding from the Treasury;
Funding to local government and children’s services from the Department of Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities should better represent local contexts, populations, and levels of actual need;
The Department for Education to reaffirm its role as a champion and advocate for children and young people across the Westminster Government;
The Department for Health and Social Care should delegate the resources and responsibilities for the commissioning and provision of all children’s community and mental health services to place-based integrated partnerships;
A root-and-branch review of children’s mental health services in NHS England, so that needs are met as soon as possible in the places and spaces that suit children’s lives and preferences;
An independent evaluation of the impact of the current welfare system on children, young people and families should be commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure it is working towards the eradication of child poverty.

But, what do you think?

Last week, AssemblePlay asked that very question, and received some interesting and passionate responses. Therefore, with The Playwork Foundation, we’re holding an open meeting for those within the playwork sector to come together and discuss, express, and propose the current state of children’s services in England, and across Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

If you would like to join us, simply save the date:

Thursday 29th February, from 1pm

And click the link below to join us:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85183099330?pwd=RnBmZllpb2kzbmZPRmsvczU1S05Fdz09

Meeting ID: 851 8309 9330
Passcode: 257340