Today’s blog looks at our announcement of £6.5 million to place social workers in schools to support children most at risk during Covid-19.
Social workers to work in schools to support vulnerable children
On Thursday 21 May as part of the Prime Minister’s virtual summit on hidden harms, the Education Secretary announced £6.5 million to involve more than 150 schools in a project that will place social workers at the heart of schools.
Part of a wider funding package of nearly £10 million to boost the educational outcomes of vulnerable children, social workers will now be able to support teaching staff in identifying the children most at risk during the pandemic.
This announcement follows evidence of rising domestic abuse incidents during the pandemic, and the effectiveness of social workers in identifying those children most vulnerable to harm.
The resources have been covered by The Daily Mail, The Sun, FE News, and TES and full details of the announcement can be found here.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
“The stark reality is that too many children are growing up at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation. These are the most vulnerable in society, and the ones that most need our help. For these children, schools offer a safe space to get support, develop resilience and fulfil their potential.
“That is why, as schools begin opening more widely and we look to the future, we must take all the steps we can to protect these children. By bringing social workers into schools we can spot the warning signs more quickly.”