Today’s Education in the Media blog looks at the launch of a new consultation on unregulated accommodation as we look to improve the quality of children’s social care. Meanwhile we also respond to a BBC story on non-disclosure agreements.
Unregulated accommodation
Today, Wednesday 12 February, we launched a consultation on unregulated accommodation with a view introduce minimum standards and ban under 16s being placed in this type of accommodation. This has been covered in print by BBC Online, the Guardian, the Independent, the Telegraph, the Times and the Mirror and the story featured on the Victoria Derbyshire programme and on the BBC News Channel earlier today.
The consultation will be open for eight weeks and is designed to gather the views of the sector of how to effectively introduce new measures, in order to protect children in care.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
There are no circumstances where a child under 16 should be placed in accommodation that does not keep them safe. That is unacceptable and I am taking urgent action to end this practice and drive up the quality of care provided to all vulnerable children.
Social workers and council chiefs have to make difficult decisions about the children in their care, so it’s important that we agree an ambitious approach to these important reforms to bring about lasting change in children’s social care.
Non-disclosure agreements
Today, BBC Online reported on the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by universities. The article says that universities have been pressuring students to sign NDAs for complaints of sexual assault, bullying and poor teaching.
The Universities Minister Chris Skidmore has posted his reaction to this, outlining that it is unacceptable.
This is nothing short of an abuse of power.
I have spoken against the use of NDAs on staff, but it is staggering that some universities have used them against students.
The full data on this should be published ASAP so these institutions are revealedhttps://t.co/EF0sQyhqCk
— Chris Skidmore (@CSkidmoreUK) February 12, 2020
More information on the consultation, statistics and research around unregulated provision can be found on our website.