23rd April

Youth Volunteering Fails To Take Off
Youth volunteering levels have remained stagnant, despite the government spending millions to get young people volunteering, according to a survey of 11- to 25-year-olds. The think-tank nfpSynergy surveyed more than 1,000 young people and found that, in the year to November 2006, 28.5 per cent volunteered for a charity. But in the year to November 2007 the figure actually fell, to 27.6 per cent.

The finding comes in spite of increased government spending to encourage young people to donate their time, which included the creation of youth volunteering charity v in 2006. The charity was established after the Russell Commission outlined ways to get more young people involved in volunteering. Last November it received £75m from the government to fund the vinvolved scheme, in a bid to get more young people participating.

Joe Saxton, co-founder of nfpSynergy, said: "Our figures will make disappointing reading for both the government and the third sector. Whatever money, resources and efforts have been targeted at young people to engage them with volunteering have shown little sign of bearing fruit."

Charity v was unavailable for comment on the findings.

Source: Children & Young People Now

2nd April

Low Pay and Status Hinders Workforce
Low pay, uncertain career development and low status are major problems standing in the way of improving the early years workforce, research by a leading think-tank has found.

To solve the problem, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the government needs to get the whole workforce qualified to at least level three, draw up a career structure for workers and agree suitable minimum wages. The findings for IPPR's For Love or Money report, published today (2 April), are based on focus groups involving 53 early years workers mostly from private and voluntary nurseries.

The report says the low pay and status of early years workers is linked to the fact that the workforce is predominately female. Low pay makes it difficult to find and keep staff, while low status means it is harder for workers to form supportive relationships with parents. The report also finds low minimum qualification requirements and lack of a clear career ladder in the sector is holding down both wages and quality.

Workers believe progression means moving into management, rather than being properly rewarded for the jobs they currently do. This, along with limited understanding of how to move into the wider children's workforce, could cause many staff to leave the early years sector altogether. "Overall, there was a sense of powerlessness - that changes are being done to the workforce rather than in partnership with it," the report says.

The report's author, Graeme Cooke, senior research fellow at IPPR, said: "A world-class early years system requires a world-class workforce. That means investing in training, raising the bar on the skills required and taking steps to match higher quality with better pay. The early years is central to economic prosperity and social justice - so can we afford not to?"

IPPR has said an independent early years practitioners board should be formed to give feedback on policy and workforce reforms. The report also recommends that more senior early years workers are qualified at level five to improve the quality of the workforce and meet the demand for highly skilled workers.

Source: Cathy Wallace, Children & Young People Now

Children Flock To Social Networks
More than a quarter of 8 to 11 year olds in the UK have a profile on a social network research shows.  Most sites such as Bebo, MySpace and Facebook, set a minimum age of between 13 and 14 to create a profile but none actively enforce the age limit. Ofcom's survey of 5,000 adults and 3000 children found 49% of those aged between 8 and 17 have a profile. It says parents could put their children at risk if they do not keep an eye on what they do online.

The survey found that 16% of parents do not know if their child's profile is visible to all, 33% of parents say they set no rules for their children's use of social networks and 43% of children say their parents set no rules for use of social networks. According to the Ofcom report, almost 60% of children use social networking sites to make new friends, compared to 17% of adults who use the sites for the same purpose.

So Ofcom offer the following advice to parents, if your child is 14 or under, check whether you feel the site is appropriate, set rules, and check your child's profile.

source: BBC News website

1st April

Qualifications Face Axe In Shake Up of Standards
Qualifications for 14- to 19-year-olds are to be cut back as part of moves to streamline the system. Under proposals published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families some existing qualifications will be drawn into four groups: diplomas; GCSEs and A levels; apprenticeships; and foundation courses that lead to higher education. Others will be scrapped.

The government wants to retain "the best" qualifications, but also make it easier for young people, their parents, and careers advisers to understand the different routes that are available.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls said: "The current qualifications system is still too complex. It is often difficult for young people and their advisers to understand which will best meet their needs and support their aspirations."

Source: Tom Lloyd, Children & Young People Now