ABSTRACT
Things are always on the move in education, not least in the pastoral care of children. The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (formerly the Department for Education and Skills, DfES) now oversees education and what used to be quite separate – social work and family support services for children which previously came under the Department of Health. As the new name makes clear, schools are central to joined-up services for families as part of one local authority (LA), no longer as part of a discrete local education authority (LEA). (Different governance arrangements and legislation apply in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. While I have written from an English perspective, the general issues addressed in this book are essentially the same. Some key distinctions are noted in the text.)
New local collaborations, trusts and school management arrangements are emerging under the Education and Inspections Act 2006, with a particular focus on improving behaviour and attendance. There has been a considerable expansion in early years provision which has brought children into schools at a significantly younger age. Many professionals may be involved in meeting their needs. The teacher is now part of a multi-agency team, both within the school and beyond it, no longer working in isolation.
