Here, you can find all our publications and resources that are dedicated to issues concerning children and young people. These aim to keep you up-to-date, and support you in improving the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of your work in children's services.
We are responsible for:
- running the school survey, a national web-based survey of schools' views of their local authority and the local services provided for children and young people;
- maintaining resource packs and tools for local authorities and for schools; and
- national reports on key areas.
Resource packs
Controlling school finances tool (external link)
This self-evaluation tool allows schools to test their financial management arrangements against the standards set out in the revised version of Keeping Your Balance, which was published jointly by the Audit Commission and OFSTED in October 2000. It contains self-evaluation questions, good practice, scored feedback tables and an interactive action plan.
Managing school resources (external link)
A voluntary online self-assessment tool, that creates an action plan providing schools with a structure for value for money discussions, and signposts useful value for money resources
SEN/AEN value for money in schools (external link)
This pack, designed with the National Strategies, offers a seven-stage model for considering special additional needs and additional educational needs value for money. It covers budgets and spending, assessment, provision and evaluation. The self-review format prompts schools to gather relevant management information and build a picture of their current practice. In the final stage, it creates an action plan from the responses.
Workforce Planning tool for Secondary Schools (Excel, external link)
A tool for secondary schools, it supports schools in breaking down expenditure by subject and comparing expenditure with outcomes, supporting assessments of the efficiency of workforce deployment
Education of looked after children toolkit
This toolkit support councils in their planning to improve the educational outcomes of looked-after children. The downloadable self-assessment resource has seven areas of investigation.
School balances tool
This tool provides auditors and councils with key information about how effectively school balances are managed. It is updated annually.
Strategic management of school places tool
This is a diagnostic that supports local authorities in their planning for falling school rolls. It enables authorities to compare their position with other authorities when it comes to current and projected surplus places in primary and secondary schools
VFM in SEND/AEN for Children's Trusts resource pack (external link)
This resource pack includes a self-assessment to help children's trusts identify how to improve value for money in the services they provide. It includes practice examples drawn from fieldwork and from other published sources
Improving Children's Trusts resource pack (external link)
This is a voluntary, online self-evaluation tool to help your children's trust board to improve governance and value for money. It helps your children's partnerships identify where more work is needed, and it will generate an action plan.
National reports
Against the odds - re-engaging young people in education, employment or training
Our study finds the problem with NEETs (young people not in education, employment or training) may be worse than an annual government survey shows. The study suggests a new approach can make scarce resources work harder for those at greatest risk. A number of resources are available with this report.
Giving children a healthy start
Setting out what support can be used to make sure all children are healthy in their early years.
Valuable Lessons
Improving economy and efficiency in schools.
Tired of hanging around
Using sport and leisure activities to prevent anti-social behaviour by young people (Tired of hanging around scrutiny tool).
Are we there yet?
Improving governance and resource management in children's trusts (self assessment tool for children's trust boards).
Out of Authority Placements for Special Educational Needs
Planning and commissioning provision cost effectively.
Better Safe Than Sorry
Preventing unintentional injury to children, especially the under fives.