Financial transparency: local authority maintained schools and academy trusts
The Government is introducing new measures to increase the financial transparency of state-funded schools. These changes affect those in the local authority maintained sector, rather than academies.
Virtual Schools and the quality of education – research evidence
There are implications for learning styles, whole school organisation, and the funding of education with the increasing use of information technology in schools. This report looks at research done by the National Education Policy Centre into the educational effectiveness of virtual and blended schools.
School exclusion: Timpson review and DfE response
The Timpson review of school exclusion looks at who is excluded from school, and what can be done to reduce exclusion. The Government response accepts the proposals.
Corporate estate management and maintenance in the local government sector
This briefing is the next in the series examining the Local Government Audit Service (LGAS) value for money (VFM) reports. The briefing examines the key findings and recommendations of the LGAS VFM report no. 30, which relates to corporate estate management and maintenance in the local government sector.
Firstline: DfE evaluation report on social work leadership programme
This briefing is on the DfE commissioned evaluation of Firstline, a leadership programme for first line managers, working in children and families social work. It will be of prime interest to practitioners and leaders across the social care sector, as well as local authority officers and members.
Strategic planning for the changing roles of activity centres post Covid-19
This briefing examines the potential impact of a shift to online retail and working from home on activity centres, with a focus on land use planning implications. It is the second in two part series, the first of which looked at the impact of the Covid-19 shutdown on vulnerable workers in Australia.
Local Procurement: Making the most of small business
In July 2013, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) published Local Procurement: Making the most of small businesses: One year on. It is argued that there are considerable benefits in terms of local income flows through local government procurement with local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The report is based on surveys of local authority…
The Future of Jobcentre Plus: Work and Pensions Committee Report
The report by the Work and Pensions Committee into the future of Jobcentre Plus covered the planned on-going co-location of JCP offices with other local services, such as council benefit teams and health services, and a process of devolution of employment services to combined local authorities and devolved governments
Providing of affordable workspaces: How councils can utilise property assets
In this case study, Andrew Cribb (co-founder of 3Space, a UK-based affordable workspace provider) shares examples from the UK of how councils are managing their property portfolios to provide affordable spaces and deliver sustainable economic growth objectives.
Single framework inspections of children’s services – Ofsted evaluation
Ofsted has published an evaluation of the first 11 inspections of local authority children’s services (children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers) and parallel reviews of Local Safeguarding Children Boards, conducted under the ‘single framework’ introduced in November 2013. It is supported by an independent review of the implementation…