Review of Hidden Children Action Plan (June 2018 – March 2019)

Reviewed December 2020

Hidden children - better understanding actions
We want those who are working with the groups of children and young people most at risk of being ‘hidden’ to know what education the children are receiving, to consider the impact that is having on the young person and family and, when relevant, what time limited plan is in place to get them back to full-time education.	The Hidden Children strategy was shared widely with FC&L staff and with school leaders, including governors. This included refreshed guidance on attendance and part time timetables. BHISS have also been sharing their service offers and specifically information on inclusion in recent months with BAP groups. This was some time ago and a refresh will be necessary in 2021. The Access to Education team continues to work alongside other teams in a complimentary way to the principles of whole family working. The SAWASS data was not as useful a source of data has had been hoped and more up to date information will be required to inform future practice.
Hidden children - better assessment and tracking actions
We want professionals to share their own service user lists and referral information with relevant colleagues to ensure we have a joined up understanding of the needs of Brighton & Hove’s hidden children. This needs to be through regular face to face communication so that the nuances of family situations are properly understood.	The council has developed a reporting tool for schools to complete that will be submitted in line with the termly census data. The initial return from schools for the 18-19 academic year suggested 157 pupils were on a part time timetable at some in the academic year. 51 of these had EHCPs. 52 are primary aged pupils. The January 2020 return indicated 93 pupils were on part-time timetables. In October 2020 155 pupils were on part timetables in 39 schools. 27 primary schools and 9 in secondary schools. The remainder in alternative provision. Carefirst has a ‘child missing education’ indicator flag. With additional planning and training this facility can be used for the purpose of monitoring ‘hidden children’. A review of the Access to Education team was undertaken and it was determined to create a standalone Hidden Children post which is now being recruited to with a likely start date of March 2021. The CME panel and other meetings have maintained their current focus, and this will be reviewed in Spring 2021 with the recruitment to the new post. Progress on a recorded plan of what is known and what will happen for each individual child has been slow and the aspiration to have a co-ordinated single plan for the family is still not in place.
Hidden children - better communications actions
All children need full time provision that meets their needs. This renewed focus on the risk of harm to these children and young people together with the information gathered must inform the commissioning of relevant services using resources available.	Concerns about the ethics of producing an analytical tool together with GDPR concerns meant this was not completed but the intention to develop an early intervention/predictive tool remains. The secondary and primary BAPs continue with the addition of a more strategic meeting of the secondary BAP every term to provide a space to consider wider issues rather than specific case work of individual pupils. Despite raising awareness, a broader language and culture shift is required in the city. The council continues to promote relationship-based interventions.