Education outcomes for looked after children in Scotland

The Scottish Government has published statistics on the attainment, post-school destinations, and the school attendance and exclusion rates of all looked after children in 2015/16. Key findings include: education outcomes for looked after children have improved, however there are still gaps compared to all pupils; and looked after children with the most positive education outcomes are those in foster care rather than in other care settings, those with fewer care placements in the year and those who have been looked after for the whole year, rather than just part of it.

Source: Scottish Government  Date: 29 June 2017

Further information: Education outcomes for looked after children 2015/16 (PDF)

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller resources

The Children’s Society has made available resources produced to support professionals and carers working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities looking at how they can keep their young people safe from child sexual exploitation (CSE). Resources include: Stay safe; don’t send, an animated film made by Gypsy and Traveller young people to raise awareness among their peers about how to stay safe online; a guide for professionals; and leaflets and posters in English, Slovak and Romanian outlining the warning signs of CSE and where to find help and information.

Source: The Children’s Society  Date: 29 June 2017

Further information: Stay safe; don’t send: a practitioner’s guide (PDF)

Social media and children’s mental health

The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has published a report examining the evidence of the impact of using social media on young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. Conclusions following a round-up of the latest evidence include: there is no scientific consensus on the impact of screen-based lifestyles on the mental health of young people; there is limited research on effective interventions to address online risk, for example interventions to prevent or reduce cyber-bullying among young people; restricting access to the internet may reduce the likelihood of young people experiencing online risk, but it also restricts the opportunities for young people to develop digital skills and to build resilience. Recommendations include: more research on the positive and negative influences of social media on young people’s mental health; and focusing policy on how to develop resilience in young people to maintain their emotional and mental wellbeing and to live safe digital lives.

Source: EPI  Date: 30 June 2017

Further information: Social media and children’s mental health: a review of the evidence (PDF) 

Childline sees rise in contacts about race and faith-based bullying

The NSPCC reports that children as young as nine are contacting Childline about race or faith-based bullying, and that the service frequently sees a spike in counselling sessions following terror attacks. Childline figures show that: there were more than 2,500 counselling sessions in the last three years about racial and faith based bullying; Muslim, Jewish. Christian, Black and Sikh were among those who contacted Childline about the issue; in some cases, young people told Childline that the constant abuse and negative stereotyping was so cruel that they had self-harmed, and many wished they could change who they are. Advice to help parents spot the signs of bullying include: unexplained physical injuries; being afraid to go to school, having mysterious illnesses or skipping school altogether; becoming nervous, withdrawn or losing confidence; and problems with eating or sleeping.

Source: NSPCC  Date: 28 June 2017

Further Information: Childline

Technology assisted harmful sexual behaviour (HSB): a practice resource

The NSPCC’s Impact and evidence series features a blog by Pat Branigan Development Manager at the NSPCC introducing the Technology-assisted HSB practice resource (TA-HSB) designed to help experienced risk assessment trained social workers, youth offending team practitioners and specialist providers know how to: collect and collate relevant information regarding technology assisted HSB; devise a structure to develop a case formulation; develop safety plans. TA-HSB replaces the 2009 iAIM framework practice guidance to help professionals work with young people who had engaged in HSB online, and training on how to use TA-HSB 2017 guidance is available.

Source: NSPCC  Date: 03 July 2017

Further information: TA-HSB 2017