Today’s Education in the media blog looks at siblings in care and the work that teachers do to teach democracy, law, mutual respect and tolerance in schools.
SIBLINGS IN CARE
Today, Wednesday 18 April, BBC online and BBC Victoria Derbyshire Show have run a feature piece about children in care who have been split from their siblings.
All councils have a duty to make sure a child is able to live with their sibling, where it is in the best interest of the children.
Government reforms to children’s social care aim to encourage local authorities to meet the needs of the children and families that they support. Local authorities have more than £200 billion available for local services up to 2019-20, which includes children’s services.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
“Local authorities have more than £200 billion available for local services up to 2019-20 – which includes funding for children’s services.
“All councils have a duty to make sure a child is able to live with their sibling, where it is in the best interest of the children. Where there is a good reason why siblings should not be kept together, we expect arrangements to be put in place for the children to remain in contact.”
HOUSE OF LORDS SECLECT COMMITTEE REPORT ON CITIZENSHIP AND CIVIL ENGAGMENT
Today, Wednesday 18 April, the Lords Select Committee released a report on Citizenship and Civil Engagement.
The report called for a rethink to teaching material that is used on the government’s Educate Against Hate website.
The Press Association and TES have reported this.
Fundamental British Values are about teaching young people about democracy, law, and the mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Schools play a key role in promoting Fundamental British Values, and high quality Citizenship education helps to provide pupils with the knowledge skills and understanding to prepare them to play a full and active part in society, and teachers have a key role contributing to this. The Educate Against Hate website is a resource to support teachers and parents with up to date content and guidance.
A Government spokesman said:
"Schools play a key role in promoting Fundamental British Values, as a way to build young people's resilience to radicalisation, and enable them to identify and challenge extremist views.
"The Educate Against Hate website provides extensive advice and resources to support teachers and parents in protecting children from extremism and radicalisation.
"We all have a responsibility to encourage integration and the Government's new Integrated Communities Strategy Green paper sets out a vision of integration - communities where people, whatever their background, live, work and socialise together based on shared rights and responsibilities."
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