News

An inquiry into the planned reforms to children’s services has been announced by the education and skills committee, writes Clare Jerrom.

The committee revealed this week that it would undertake a concise overview of the reforms being proposed for children’s services under the banner ‘Every Child Matters’.

The inquiry will specifically focus on the place of social services, health and education within integrated services and the implications of the “duty to collaborate”, including the effect on funding.

The committee will examine the role of the children’s commissioner, staff needs including training, inspection and working with parents. In addition, the creation, management and sharing of records, including electronic databases, will be explored.

Formal evidence will be taken from this November and further, more focussed inquiries into particular elements of the reforms, may follow.