Youth Futures Foundation’s Post

"Absenteeism has become endemic in our schools" We're seeing lots of articles about student absences and there are a multitude of factors behind this. At the #WOOFYT, we believe that providing accessible learning opportunities to get children back in the classroom and enjoying their education is a crucial step in addressing this problem. Comment below or send us a message to learn about how you can get involved. https://lnkd.in/e7MDbFMD

An important read. Exclusions through the roof, particularly for (you guessed it) children from poorer backgrounds, those with SEND and mental health needs, and those from some ethnic minority backgrounds. Sorting it will not only benefit those directly affected, but will save jaw-droppingly huge sums of cash. It's not rocket-science! #inclusion #exclusion #SEND #mentalhealth #FSM #IPPR https://lnkd.in/eaYHZ6Ry

I do social research on all areas affecting children and young people. In the past couple of years that's included youth services, SEND provision, NHS health care, local authority social care, drugs and alcohol provision, and education. The findings in every single piece of research I've done about children's lived experience are the same: the systems to get an education, health and care plan are needlessly cruel, excluding and restrictive; children's social care caseloads are immense; child and adolescent mental health services are unavailable and inaccessible; there are no youth services in too many areas, and mainstream schools are not equipped to support pupils who don't just fit in at the first attempt. As well as being excluded in record numbers children are also simply not attending school in record numbers. Their needs are not met, early enough or consistently and so they will not get the education they need #SEND #CAMHS

A new study by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that youth service cuts have led to poorer GCSE results, as well as a decline in other social outcomes for young people. The study reinforces the findings of our Better Together: Youth work with schools (https://lnkd.in/eDS7jrvc) research which found that relationships with youth workers make a huge difference to building pupils' confidence, improving their wellbeing, encouraging and supporting them to succeed at school, and keeping them safe. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, commented that "the closure of youth clubs has meant the loss of huge benefits for the young people that attended." Read more about the IFS study on TES here: https://lnkd.in/esizzJk7 And for further information read our recent report, The social cost of youth work cuts, here: https://lnkd.in/ebXuGWk6 #YouthServices #Youthwork

I welcome this. I really do. But I also have strong reservations. I’ve said it before - but Labour’s plans seem to be skewed towards getting as many neurodivergent children into mainstream schools as possible. First, this requires a sea change in attitudes to learning. It requires better training in and understanding of autism. It requires the dropping of a one size fits all approach. It demands attention to individual need. Second, it ignores the fact that many neurodivergent children simply won’t cope within a busy, over-crowded mainstream context. The overwhelm they will experience will be too much. They may mask. But this will have hugely detrimental long-term outcomes. And that’s without having to contend with social difficulties - such as friendship forming and building. Or navigating the horrors of a typical playground. As the parent of a child who was all but destroyed by mainstream during his primary years, I can attest to how much difference the right environment can make. Specialist schools (ones that exist to support need as opposed to make money like a business) offer so much and can genuinely enhance learning and sense of self. There is a need to acknowledge the role they play. And there is a need for more of them - to cut journey times for children and to enhance opportunity. It’s a big undertaking, much like reforming the curriculum. But investing in that ideology now will reap bigger rewards for all in the future. https://lnkd.in/eDGT3ndS #education #autism #audhd #disabilityinclusion #adhd #specialneedsparenting #asd #ehcp #curriculum #students #overwhelm #sensoryneed

A 12-member panel has been appointed to review the curriculum and assessment for the new Labour government. The review is set to look closely at the key challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which hold children back from the opportunities, particularly those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, or with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dMf5diFH #gcses #gcseresults #schools #schoolnews #examresults

A great article by Victoria Flanagan on how Youth coaching leads to a range of positive outcomes for young people as they transition out of care to independence. Data from the independent evaluations of Uniting’s Youth Transitions programs (the Extended Care Pilot Program, Premier’s Youth Initiative, Foyer Central and Futures Planning and Support) was used to showcase the range of benefits that coaching brings – from increased engagement in education, better housing outcomes, better employment outcomes and also an increased sense of confidence and self-esteem.

💔 Another Tragedy at IIT-Guwahati 💔 It is with great sadness that we hear of yet another student suicide at IIT-Guwahati. Bimlesh Kumar, a 21-year-old BTech student, was found in his hostel room after facing severe academic pressures, financial hardships, and being denied exams due to low attendance. This marks the third suicide at the institute this year. Such incidents raise critical questions about the mental health support available to students at our educational institutions. It's not just about academic performance but also about emotional well-being. The immense pressure to succeed, combined with insufficient mental health resources, is pushing students to their breaking points. 🛑 We need change. 🛑 We need better support systems. 🛑 We need to prioritize student welfare. My heart goes out to Bimlesh’s family and friends. We must come together as a community to ensure such tragedies do not continue. Mental health matters—let's make sure our institutions reflect that. 💔 #MentalHealth #IITGuwahati #StudentWelfare #SupportSystems #AcademicPressure #MentalHealthAwareness Sources: @https://lnkd.in/gs7SKjC6 @indianexpress.com

Trigger warning: mentions suicide The impact of losing a teacher or staff member is huge for any school or college community – even more so if that death is by suicide. The right question at the right moment could save a life. Speaking to Tes, our CEO Sinéad Mc Brearty said the latest rise highlights “the critical need for open dialogue and supportive environments in schools, and an explicit suicide awareness campaign across education”. She also said there is not currently “a single sector provision, message, campaign set of resources for education, and that is a pretty low-cost and easy fix to get out across the whole sector. We have continued to wait for recovery in the sector [after Covid] and that hasn’t come yet”. https://ow.ly/q7wr50TjIMy #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #StartTheConversation