NCB in the news
December 2010
Lets talk
about sex, Times Educational Supplement, 3.12.2010
Lucy Emmerson discusses good practice for Sex
and Relationships Education (SRE) teaching using case studies from
Denmark and compares methods of communication for teachers within a
UK context. Lucy explains; “They probably are not used to such a
culture of openness,” she says. “It is hard to create a school
culture that is at odds with a society’s wider-held beliefs.”
Ennals warns changes could cause 'collapse of residential care
sector, 7.12.2010
Uncertainty over the future of training and improvement support
could put the children's residential sector at serious risk, Sir
Paul Ennals has warned. According to Sir Paul Ennals, the
cumulative impact of government decisions could severely undermine
the quality of specialist provision.
Stiff community and custodial sentences have not reduced youth
offending, Children and Young People Now, 10,12.10
A report released this week by the All
Party Parliamentary Group for Children (APPGC), clerked by NCB,
highlights the need for wide-ranging reform to the youth justice
system. Children and Young People in the Youth Justice
System airs widespread concern about young people’s
experiences in the youth justice system, but also provides examples
of good practice, particularly from organisations working with
young people on resettlement programmes.
November 2010
Only half of school pupils that witness bullying report
it Daily Mirror, 15.11.2010
Research released by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, at the
beginning of national Anti-Bullying Week, found that 47 per cent of
those who witnessed bullying did not report it, with 50 per cent of
13-16 year olds failing to do so. This year's Anti-Bullying Week
theme is 'Taking Action Together'.
Also appeared in
Metro,
Evening Standard,
Daily Telegraph,
Daily Star, Sky
News
October 2010
Youth service cuts
'could lead to social unrest' BBC
News, 22.10.10
Sir Paul Ennals discusses the implications
of the Comprehensive Spending Review on youth services. Sir Paul
warned that “youth clubs were likely to be hit hard by spending
cuts. Along with unemployment and college cuts, it could mean young
people become "progressively disengaged from their own
communities."
Children 'learn from cut knees Daily Telegraph,
09.10.10
A report issued by the Health and Safety
Executive and Play England says organisations designing play areas
should allow for a “few grazed knees or bruised elbows” if children
gain from the experience. Mick Conway of Play England said 17,000
guides have already been ordered by local authorities and schools
hoping to build modern play areas.
Employers are urged to work with local schools East Anglian
Daily Times, 16.10.10
Employers are being invited to visit their
local schools and colleges to find out how they can work together
and help young people get the best start in life as part of the
campaign Visit Our Schools And Colleges organised by charity The
Education and Employers Taskforce. Deputy Chief Executive, NCB,
Sally Whitaker said: "In times of tough economic uncertainly and
high unemployment amongst young people, the Visit Our Schools And
Colleges Week is a great opportunity for businesses to engage with
students to provide them with the motivation and inspiration they
need to achieve their very best.
September 2010
Health and safety concerns are restricting children's school
playtime, Guardian, 07.09.10
In a survey of more than 2,000 parents of
primary school children commissioned by Play England and the
British Toy and Hobby Association, almost three-quarters of
respondents said they felt schools were too concerned with health
and safety during playtime.
Abused children 'better off in care', Guardian, 13.09.10
Sheryl Burton, Director of Social
Inclusion, NCB comments on a study which finds that children who
have been taken into care because they have suffered abuse or
neglect are often better off staying in care than being returned to
their families. Sheryl highlights the importance of proper planning
for a child to return home. Successful returns were characterised
by a slower process, full involvement of the child in the
arrangements and taking a complete picture of the family history
into account.
Councils told to consult with children on service provision,
Children and Young People Now, 28.09.10
Mandy Douglas, Assistant Director of the Participation and
Skills Centre at NCB, argued that children and young people have
the fundamental right to be involved in designing services, adding
that targeting provision effectively is always most
cost-effective
August 2010
Bus & Coach Professional, 26.08.10
Young people and children feel
unsafe using public transport in England, according to a survey of
240 young people by the British Youth Council and the National
Children's Bureau. In the survey 92 per cent said that drunk or
rowdy people make them feel unsafe while waiting for public
transport.
In the lead, The Source, September edition (released
27.08.2010)
Geraldine Lowe, outlines the success
of the Volunteer Leadership Programme run by NCB. The programme
aims to get the voices of young people heard on a local level by
providing opportunities for young people to lead projects on issues
which affect young people in their local area.
Hundreds of
playground schemes mothballed, BBC News, 11.08.10
Education Secretary Michael Gove has frozen
grants to 132 councils for building and running up to 1,300
schemes, many designed by youngsters, under the Playbuilder scheme.
Steve Chown from Play England said:"Communities are going to be
disappointed that these play areas that they have worked so hard to
set up are not now going forward.”
Many fearful of
helping a child in need, BBC News, 01.08.10
A survey carried out by Play England shows that 44% of men would
be weary of helping a distressed child in need in case witnesses
think an attempt is being made to abduct the youngster. Adrian
Voce, director of Play England, said: "This survey highlights that
children are increasingly isolated and unable to play outside with
friends."
July 2010
Children's minister urges early years and childcare sector to
contribute to EYFS review, Nursery World, 06.7.2010
Speaking at an NCB event in Westminster
yesterday in advance of the launch of the EYFS review today,
children's minister Sarah Teather said the EYFS had set standards
and 'raised the bar' for many in the sector.
BTHA takes play message onto TV Toys 'n' Playthings,
01.07.10
The British Toy & Hobby Association under
its consumer brand, the Lion Mark, has partnered with Play England
to ask parents to pledge time to play this summer.
Two TV adverts have been produced that will
run from this month through to September which encourage parents to
think about making more time to play with their children, and more
time to just let their children play.
Appointment at British Youth Council, Youth Work Now
01.07.10
Ingrid Duffin has joined the British Youth
Council as communications assistant. Duffin is employed as part of
the National Children's Bureau's Skills Development Programme,
which provides learning opportunities for unemployed young
people.
Website of the week, East
Anglian Daily Times [Essex] 17.7.2010
The Anti-Bullying Alliance has launched a
competition to get school pupils thinking about Taking Action
Together against bullying, which is the theme of this years
Anti-Bullying Week in November. ABA is asking key stage 2 and 3
pupils to design a computer screensaver depicting the theme of
collective action against bullying.
June 2010
Play time's over for children of pushy parents Daily Express,
16.6.2010
A recent study by the British Toy and Hobby
Association in partnership with Play England has found that
children are left with only 1 hour a day to play with friends.
Parents say long school hours, homework and extra-curricular
lessons mean children lead increasingly structured lives.
Coverage also in
Daily Mail online - 15.06.2010,
The Sun 29.6.2010,
Daily Telegraph, 15.06.2010 and across regional
newspapers.
Survey reveals one-third of councils lack coherent plan to support
parents of pre-school age, Children and Young People Now,
23.06.2010
More than a third of councils do not have a
clear plan in place to support parents of pre-school-age children,
according to a survey carried out by the National Quality
Improvement Network (NQIN), which asked senior childcare staff
whether their council had a strategic quality improvement framework
for engaging with parents of pre-school-age children and helping
them with home learning.
Sue Owen, director of Well-Being at NCB, said it was a concern
that so many councils did not have a quality improvement framework
on engaging with parents. ‘We believe that all local authorities
would benefit from a consistent approach to managing parental
engagement in early years settings and home learning,” Sue
said.
Too much homework and television leaves just one hour a day for
'children to be children', The Daily Mail, 15.06.2010
Figures released by Play England, part of NCB and the British
Toy and Hobby Association show that children are under more
pressure today with homework, extra lessonsand television
preventing children from having time to play each day.
May 2010
Children have their say, The Independent, 07.05.2010
Barbara Hearn discusses the importance of the
participation of children and young people in issues which affect
them and illustrates the way in which NCB involves young people on
interview panels for the appointment and selection of staff.
Involving young people in NCB appointments, helps make clear to
candidates that young people are at the heart of work conducted by
NCB, helps draw out how candidates view the issues that children
and young people face, and helps the young interviewers to develop
an understanding of the work that the NCB does.
April 2010
Young girl campaigns against racism, CBBC
Newsound, 22.04.2010
Reem from Young NCB Northern Ireland, appeared on BBC Newsround to
discuss putting a stop to racism. Reem is campaign to end racism by
speaking to politicians on how to ensure everyone is equal.
March 2010
Children's
outdoor play access 'a political issue', BBC News,
23.03.2010
Children's access to safe places to play should be treated as a
serious political issue says Play England. Play England has issued
a manifesto as a survey for Play England says 83% of adults
want the next government to have more opportunities for outdoor
play.
Increasing
numbers of ASBO children taken into custody: report, Community
Newswire, 30.03.2010
NCB's report, Children and Young People In 'Breach' looks at how to
improve outcomes for young offenders and reduce re-offending. It
contains the initial findings from a project to increase
understanding of policy and practice in breach proceedings,
focusing on children and young people who end up in custody as a
result of breach.
February 2010
Barbara Hearn comments on new figures on
the number of young people not in education, employment or
training. BBC News Channel, 08.02.2010
Barbara Hearn appears on the BBC News Channel to discuss the
growing concern about the number of young people not in education,
employment and training. Barbara discusses the need to commit to
investing into services such as life skills development, affordable
transport and ongoing guidance and support to reduce the number of
young people not in education, employment or training.
January 2010
Backlash over plan to extend TV advertising, Guardian,
04.01.2010
Ministers are facing opposition over plans to allow products to be
used in television programmes for marketing purposes. NCB amongst
other organisations have signed a petition to oppose the plan in
the fear that product placement will reduce the protection of young
people from harmful marketing influences, and fuel childhood
obesity.
Don’t be distracted from the importance of play, Guardian
06.01.2010
Adrian Voce, writes about the importance of play as a fundamental
need for children that requires local accessible spaces which are
safe but also physically challenging, stimulating and
well-maintained. Adrian comments ‘the national play strategy takes
on this challenge and has given rise to a change, both in the
priority now being afforded to children’s play by local councils
and in the quality of play areas being provided. ‘
Fight
for early start, Nursery World, 14.01.2010
A campaign to highlight the importance of investment in services
for young children has been launched by the Early Childhood Unit at
NCB. The Firm Foundations campaign is designed to provide
information about evidence collected on how to ensure quality early
years education and its benefits.
Give them a
break, Times Educational Supplement, 22.01.2010
Helen Ward (TES) interviews Catherine Prisk about play
underpinning all learning and development in the early years, and
the need for national guidance on outdoor space. Catherine Prisk
challenges schools to make more of playtime. She says play is often
the most effective way of supporting children at risk who need down
time. ‘Play should be promoted as a good in itself, not just
something that leads to measurable outcomes.’ Catherine continues:
‘Play opportunities in some schools are so poor that creating a
fight or taunting someone… provide some variety, challenge and
risk. Once you’ve got play opportunities, those behaviours
disappear.’