A short message from Chris Baird
Dear colleagues,
A short but important message from me to end the term. Thank you for all you have done for children and young people in Warwickshire over this year and for the leadership and support you have provided to staff and to your local communities. I am sure all are looking forward to the holiday period and hope that everyone finds what they are looking for, rest, rejuvenation and something to bring cheer during the festive season.
I know colleagues in Education Services and in the wider council put great store by the constructive and positive working relationships they have with schools and settings. These have been all the more important during the COVID19 age and will continue in the New Year.
Best wishes and happy holidays when you get there.
Chris Baird
Interim Assistant Director for Education Services.
Safeguarding and child protection
Safeguarding is always at the forefront of our work with children and young people. However, recent tragic events leading to the deaths of two young children remind us of the crucial need for vigilance. The NSPCC offer some useful insight into risks to children’s safety created by the pandemic
A message from John Coleman, Assistant Director Children and Families
Dear colleagues,
I received this from John Coleman, Assistant Director Children and Families and thought it would be useful to share with you. I echo his observations and reflections and thank you for your continued support and curiosity in working with children and young people to promote their safety.
Chris Baird,
Interim Assistant Director Education Services
"Hello all,
I know you will all be as sad and touched by the awful abuse experienced by Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull and Star Hobson in Bradford at the hands of their parents and step parents. These situations have led to extensive comments about social work and considerable blaming in the media. Our local MP for Stratford and the Secretary of State for Education Nadhim Zahawi were very clear that individual social workers being abused will not be tolerated.
More balanced and helpful commentary focusses on systemic issues in society about poverty and the pandemic, which make is harder to keep children safe, particularly with the small number of parents who abuse their children and do everything possible to mask this. Particularly through the pandemic when the usual structures to support practitioners from all agencies to get close to children were eroded.
When children get killed like this, we have to keep our heads. Stay proportionate and not enter the anxiety reaction that can follow. This can lead to making the situation worse if our service becomes overloaded. We also have to remember the majority of parents, want to change to support and care for their children. A very small number of parents, do not and we have to stay curious and open to the possibility of worse scenarios. Through curiosity, strengths-based approaches, good supervision and manageable caseloads we manage risk and we protect children.
Social Workers and other agencies still save children every day. We need to remind ourselves of all the good things we do every day that keep children safe and help families make meaningful change.
John Coleman,
Assistant Director Children and Families"
‘How to’ Use CO₂monitors in education and childcare settings
This guide sets out how education and childcare settings can use CO₂ monitors most effectively to help identify poor ventilation.
Read more here.
Warwickshire Libraries are open with plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy this festive season
From 20 – 24 December, our libraries will be hosting a number of fun educational events and activities for pre-school and school aged children. These range from Rhyme Time, Lego Club, and Story Stomps, to magical Christmas crafts and stories with Kate's Storytree to help us glide gracefully into Christmas. To find out which activities are happening at your local library and how to book, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childrensactivities.
The start of this month also saw the launch of The Reading Agency's online Winter Mini Challenge, available from 1 December 2021 – 16 January 2022. Warwickshire children can join the Wild World Heroes characters as they embark on an Arctic adventure. During the story children can find out about creatures that live in the arctic and the environmental issues facing this precious ecosystem - they might even spot a narwhal or two! The challenge follows the success of The Summer Reading Challenge from earlier this year, which saw thousands of children reading and exploring nature and action for the environment. To get involved in this online reading challenge, visit
www.wintermini.org.uk
For younger children there is the opportunity to get involved in the free Warwickshire Book Bears scheme. Children under five collect a stamp every time they visit the library, and after six stamps they earn a certificate. If they collect all ten certificates then they will receive a soft Library Book Bear toy as a reward for completion. To find out more you can ask about the Books Bears scheme at your local library.
Warwickshire Libraries will be sharing details about all of their upcoming events and activities on social media, including Facebook @warwickshirelibraries, where they are currently hosting a fun, festive Christmas Quiz, and Twitter @warklibraries