InfoIslington - Islington Reference Library

Child Protection and Safeguarding Annual Report

The number of children subject to a child protection plan in Islington was 115 in February 2013 (latest report to the Islington Safeguarding Children Board). This reflects a rate of 34 per 10,000 (0-17 years population) which is below the average England rate (37.8 per 10,000 in March 2012) and the average London rate (35.7 per 10,000 in March 2012). Since April 2012 the number of children subject to Child protection plans in Islington has fluctuated each month but overall there has been a decrease from 136 (April 2012).

The relatively low numbers of children subject to a Child protection plan in Islington are in part attributed to the local development of early intervention strategies and services for vulnerable families. It is also note-worthy that the England and London rates (as at March 2012) have fallen since March 2011.

Islington Plan for Looked After Children and Care Leavers 2011-14

The Islington Plan for Looked After Children and Care Leavers 2011-2014 follows on from the first plan for looked after children. This outlines the vision and actions to ensure that looked after children grow up to be happy, healthy and safe, and care leavers have the support they need to be great young adults.

Family and Parent Supporting Strategy 2012 - 2015

This document describes a strategy for achieving a vision for parenting support in Islington. It sets out a common vision and what will be arranged to ensure that positive family life and parenting are supported. A summary document can be accessed here.

City Safe Havens

Islington is now part of the CitySafe Havens campaign which offers young people a place to go, a Safe Haven, when they are feeling threatened. The CitySafe Havens are local businesses or organisations with especially trained staff who can help young people when they are in a difficult situation. CitySafe Havens is a part of City Safe that was designed and created by young people to tackle the issue of knife crime on the streets of London. It is a way for young people to work together with shopkeepers, the police and local authorities to reclaim the streets and to reconnect and build relationships across the community.Through the CitySafe campaign young people and adults work together to:

• Encourage local businesses and organisations to offer their premises as CitySafe Havens and pledge to report 100% of crime
• Build stronger relationships with their peers, the police and neighbourhood organisations, strengthening their CitySafe Zone
• Organise events that facilitate dialogue between police and young people, led by CitySafe Champions.

A Safe Haven is a public place where young people can seek refuge in a difficult situation.  Safe Havens sign a charter committing them to:

• Pledge to report 100% of crime to the Police
• Offer their premises as a safe haven for any young person in danger
• Maintain a relationship with neighbours, police and the local community
• Encourage their staff to attend CitySafe training
• Refuse to sell alcohol, knives or other dangerous items to underage or drunk customers.
• Islington Town Hall and the council building in Newington Barrow Way are council buildings that are part of the scheme.

To find out where all of the Safe Havens in Islington are please visit City Safe Havens Islington.

 

CitySafe Havens' buildings display the poster shown in the top right hand corner of this page. The campaign in Islington is dedicated to Martin Dinnegan who was tragically murdered in 2007.If your organisation would like to become a CitySafe Haven please email Promise Campbell at Promise.Campbell@cof.org.uk

Children in Poverty

This GLA Intelligence Unit report presents data on the percentage of children living in poverty in London boroughs. Explains that the measure used is the proportion of children living in families in receipt of out of work benefits or tax credits where their reported income is less than 60 per cent of median income. Reports that: more than one in four of London’s children were in poverty in 2010; child poverty rates have fallen in London, but are still higher than in any other region of the UK; child poverty in Tower Hamlets (nearly 50 per cent) was the highest in the country, and nearly five times as high as in Richmond upon Thames; four boroughs - Tower Hamlets, Islington, Westminster and Redbridge - include pockets where more than three in five children were in poverty; over the last four years, most boroughs have seen decreases in the percentage of children in poverty, although Bromley has seen virtually no change, while Havering and Bexley have seen increases in most years. Compares London child poverty figures with data from other UK regions, using the government’s primary measure of child poverty.

Supporting London local government to deliver free early education for disadvantaged two year olds

Local authorities will have a statutory duty to provide free part time early education for the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two-year olds from September 2013. This will be extended to 40 per cent in 2014.

The offer will be for 570 hours of free early education for each eligible two year-old. If taken over 38 weeks in a year, this represents 15 hours a week. The policy is an extension to the existing universal entitlement for three and four year olds.

Although 20 and then 40 per cent of two year-old will be eligible for the offer nationally, this is not evenly spread across the country. Due to higher levels of poverty, rising birth rates and inward migration, London has a greater share of eligible two year-old than any other region. Yet, with fewer childminders in London than elsewhere in England and 44 per cent of early years providers in London operating at full capacity, the expansion of places presents considerable delivery challenges for London local government. 

London Councils commissioned the Daycare Trust to undertake research into the challenges facing London local authorities in delivering the two year-old entitlement and to consider how to address these.  

Your guide to support and services for disabled children

 This leaflet from Social Services gives you information about the various services and support available for disabled children in Islington and how to get in touch.

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2011 and Action Plan 2011-2014

Islington Council has a duty to make sure there is enough childcare provision for working and studying parents, as far as is reasonably practicable. The Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA) 2011 identifies the key gaps in childcare for children aged 0-14 (up to 18 if disabled). The initial Childcare Sufficiency (CS) Action Plan 2011-14 aims to address those gaps.

Islington Adventure Play Review

 This review set out recommendations on the future delivery of adventure play in Islington.

 

Heatwave - Summer activities for Children and Young People

There are hundreds of activities for children and young people this summer, many of them free. Access the programme here.