Helen Fortgang

More than 95% get top three choice for primary school places in Reading

More than 83% of parents got their first choice for their children’s primary school places in Reading this year, despite an increase in 160 applications compared to last year.

Brighter Futures for Children, which delivers education services in Reading, has made sure all primary school pupils in the borough have a place for September. Of these, 83.44% (1,753 pupils) got their first choice and just 3.33% (70 pupils) were offered a divert option.

The number of applications for places at Reading’s primary schools has increased, up from 1,882 in 2019 to 2,042 this year.

A total of 2,140 places were available on National Offer Day (16 April) in Reading primary schools. The remaining places (160) are held for late applications and transfers during the academic year.

This year, a new Primary School Green Park Village Academy is opening in Green Park, which may account for the increase in applications.

For those who couldn’t be offer a place, a divert school has been offered. All divert schools are considered to be within a reasonable distance of the child’s home address. This accounts for 3% of applications.

Late applications have still to be processed.

In addition, there were 150 pupils who needed an infant to junior school transfer. Reading has only two schools for which this transfer is necessary. 98.67% of Reading residents’ on-time applications received their first preference.  There were two pupils who were not offered a place at their preferred school but they are not attending an infant school. Late applications for these, too, still have to be processed.

Prof Dr Kate Reynolds, Director of Education at Brighter Futures for Children, said:

'It's no surprise to us that there has been an increase in applications for Reading's primary schools this year. Parents are very happy with the very impressive education their children receive in the borough and we are working closely with all schools to maintain and further improve standards all the time.

'I'd like to personally thank all primary school staff for their continued commitment to making Reading such a popular choice and I'd also like to thank the education team at Brighter Futures for Children for working so hard to ensure so many families got their preferred choices and that every child in the borough has been offered a place. I wish all children starting at primary school this year all the very best for the future.’

Cllr Ashley Pearce, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Member for Education, said: ‘It's great to see more parents choosing Reading's primary schools and over 95% getting one of their top 3 choices. Welcome to Green Park Village Academy as the newest member of our primary family here in Reading.

‘I'd also like to take this opportunity to extend thanks to all of our schools in Reading for all that they've done to keep the children of key workers and vulnerable children safe and in school, keeping home learning going so well, and still managing to help us with the admissions process. We continue to be grateful for all education staff going above and beyond every day.’

by Helen Fortgang

Former foster carers urged to return during coronavirus crisis

Brighter Futures for Children, which delivers children’s services in Reading, is putting out a call to former foster carers in the borough to re-register amid concerns the coronavirus epidemic could lead to a shortage of adult carers to look after vulnerable children.

Existing foster carers with Brighter Futures for Children’s Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) are also being asking if they would consider looking after more children than usual during this difficult period.

The appeal for help is in response to national concerns, shared by Brighter Futures for Children, that children and young people spending more time in unstable family situations, due to Covid-19 measures, may need to come into care.

Also, some existing foster carers, including family and friends carers, may become ill or need to self-isolate and be unable to look after their foster children.

The aim is to try to widen its foster care network across the board.

The IFA is writing to all former foster carers who have given up fostering in the last two years to ask if they would consider returning. These are carers who may have been registered with Brighter Futures for Children’s IFA or with Reading Borough Council before that. The service was transferred to Brighter Futures for Children in March 2019 and became an IFA at that time.

Re-registering would be carried out as quickly as possible and a great support network is on offer to all foster carers.

The service is also keen to hear from anyone who is interested in finding out more about becoming a foster carer.

The Brighter Futures for Children IFA is continually improving the service offered to foster carers and the children and young people who rely on it, as demonstrated by its recently improved Ofsted rating.

Tony Kildare, Brighter Futures for Children’s Managing Director, said: “We believe we have a robust and resilient business continuity plan to see us through this period but we want to widen our foster care network across the board. We need the Reading community to help us with this.

“Our foster carers do an amazing job and we are asking if they could go even further and take on more children than usual. We would also love to welcome back any former foster carers who could offer their help in these difficult times.

“Brighter Futures for Children IFA is committed to offering the best possible support to our foster carers to ensure they can continue to look after Reading children locally during this unsettling period.”

Biri Yaya, Fostering Service Manager at Brighter Futures for Children's Independent Fostering Agency said: “We are committed to ensuring that all of our children and young people across Reading are safe and well in a caring home during these tough times.

‘It’s sad but inevitable that more children will come into care over the coming weeks and months and we are planning and preparing for that and hope that we can welcome back former foster carers and encourage potential new carers.”

Former foster carers should call 0118 469 3020 or email foster@brighterfuturesforchildren.org.

Anyone interested in foster care should call 0118 469 3020 or complete the online form at: https://www.readingfostering.co.uk/

Notes to editors

In December 2018, Brighter Futures for Children was established to deliver children’s social care, early help and education on behalf of Reading Borough Council. As a company it is independent of, but wholly owned by, Reading Borough Council. Within this, Brighter Futures for Children’s Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) was established in March 2019.

by Helen Fortgang

Reading’s fostering service no longer inadequate

Brighter Futures for Children’s Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) has been judged ‘Requires Improvement to be Good’ by Ofsted, following its first inspection as an IFA since the company took over the fostering service in March 2019.

The judgement, which was the same in all three judgement areas, is an improvement on its previous judgement of ‘Inadequate’. It is important to note that the inspection found no serious or widespread failures that result in children’s welfare not being safeguarded or promoted.

The three judgement areas were:

• Overall experiences and progress of children and young people
• How well children and young people are helped and protected
• The effectiveness of leaders and managers.

The inspection, which took place between 10-14 February, found much that is working well, including most children’s needs being met by foster carers, who provide them with the care, stability and security they need to make progress.

The inspectors found that children benefited from the trusting relationships they built and maintained with foster carers and that most were making positive progress in education.

Foster carers had a sound understanding of risk and were supported by the IFA, which worked well in partnership with professionals to reduce risk-taking behaviour.

Inspectors found no major concerns regarding children going missing or being at risk of exploitation.

They identified that children were learning age-appropriate living skills and that, where possible, children’s placements were planned and children could meet foster carers before living with them.

Foster carers and staff knew the children and young people well, that foster carers managed contact with birth relatives and friends effectively and there were regular opportunities for children to express their views.

What inspectors found wasn’t working so well was the consistency and efficiency of management oversight, the number of children moved on from foster care, a lack of sensitivity in some recording and the IFA’s ability to demonstrate children’s contribution to improvement and design.

They found inconsistencies in record keeping, plans and other administrative and management tasks. All of the recommendations are now being addressed.

Deborah Glassbrook, Director of Children’s Services at Brighter Futures for Children, led the inspection response for the IFA, briefing inspectors and giving them full access to cases, information, staff, service users and partners, as required.

Deborah Glassbrook, Director of Children’s Services at Brighter Futures for Children, led the inspection response for the IFA, briefing inspectors and giving them full access to cases, information, staff, service users and partners, as required.

She said she recognised that the IFA, as with all Brighter Futures for Children services, was on a continuous improvement but was definitely on the right path.

“We have been responsible for the setting up and running of the IFA since March last year and we’ve come a long way in a relatively short space of time,’ she said. ‘Like other areas of children’s services, we have really picked up the pace of improvement and some of these will take more time to fully show.

‘We now have a stable, experienced management team in the Independent Fostering Agency, and we have an action plan to address all the weaknesses we already knew about and those identified in this report.

‘I think the key message for the public is that our children and young people are safe and we are working at pace to make all the other necessary improvements to deliver a quality and consistent service to our children and young people in foster care in Reading.

‘I’d like to thank staff and, in particular, our foster carers for their hard work and commitment to our children.’

Cllr Liz Terry, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Children’s Services, said: ‘We are very pleased to see that the Independent Fostering Agency is heading in the right direction.

‘The improvement in the performance of the fostering service is the result of a lot of hard work and I am glad to see this has been recognised by the Ofsted inspectors. Of course, there is still much to do and the council will continue to work with Brighter Futures for Children to drive the service towards a future ‘Good’ judgement.’

The full report can be found here

NOTE FOR EDITORS:

Brighter Futures for Children owns the IFA, which operates in the same independent, not-for-profit way as Brighter Futures for Children does in relation to its owner, Reading Borough Council.

Brighter Futures for Children took over the responsibility for the delivery of children’s services, including children’s social care, early help, education services (including SEND) in December 2018 and the fostering service from March 2019.

by Helen Fortgang

Reading unites against child exploitation

by Helen Fortgang

‘Outstanding’ rating for our short breaks children’s home

Cressingham, one of two children’s homes run in Reading by Brighter Futures for Children, has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted after a recent unannounced inspection visit.

The inspector awarded ‘Outstanding’ ratings to all three key areas – the overall experiences and progress of children, how well children and young people were helped and protected and the effectiveness of leaders and managers.

This was Cressingham’s first Ofsted inspection since Brighter Futures for Children took over children’s services from Reading Borough Council in December 2018. The inspector visited the home on 3-4 December 2019.

Cressingham provides short breaks (respite) care to families of children/young people who have complex health needs, learning and associated physical and/or sensory disabilities, complex communication disabilities (Autism) and/or challenging behaviour associated with a disability.

It offers overnight accommodation for six children (male and female) between the ages of 8 to 18 who primarily live in the Reading area but also accepts applications from neighbouring local authorities.

The inspection report said that ‘children benefit immensely from their short breaks and look forward to them’.

The inspector found that ‘staff focus on the children doing their best, seeing beyond their disability’ and that children enjoyed excellent relationships with staff, which was evident through the children’s ‘laughter and broad smiles’.

He said staff ‘care for the children with tenderness, warmth and love. This creates an atmosphere which is nurturing and supporting, in which children thrive.’

Staff were praised for threading the children’s identity and cultural needs through all aspects of their care and for providing a range of stimulating activities and encouraging play.

In addition, they were praised for demonstrating an excellent knowledge in how to protect and safeguard the children and for recognising the children’s vulnerability and for not being complacent.

The inspector noted that the registered manager, Helena Baptista, had developed an ‘effective impact assessment to consider the suitability of children being referred to the home’ and that children were well matched, with opportunities to socialise and have fun with other children to support their personal development.

Praise was given for up-to-date support plans, healthcare plans and safer recruitment practice.

The inspector had particular praise for Helena’s forward thinking, innovative ideas and leadership skills, with weekly team meetings and training needs fully met.

Tony Kildare, Managing Director of Brighter Futures for Children, said he was delighted with the rating, which was testament to Helena’s leadership and the whole team’s dedication to improving the lives of the children and young people they cared for.

‘This is a double success for Helena and her team, as Pinecroft, the other children’s home she manages, was rated outstanding last year too.

‘We are all extremely proud of everyone involved in the delivery of an outstanding and vital service to children, young people and their families.’

Cllr Liz Terry, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Children’s Services, said: ‘I would like to congratulate the team at Cressingham Children’s Home for consistently providing high-quality caring services for the children and young people who visit.

‘Children benefit enormously from their short breaks at Cressingham and their parents and carers know they are being looked after by a wonderfully caring and thoughtful staff team.

‘Everyone associated with the home should be very proud of such an exceptional Ofsted report.’

The full report can be found on Ofsted’s website:

https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50142792

by Helen Fortgang

Reading bucks national trend with higher GCSE grades this year

More Reading pupils achieved grades 9-4 in English and Maths this year and the overall attainment is higher than in previous years.

Figures from schools in the borough show that 65% of GCSE pupils achieved grades 9-4 in English and Maths, which is an increase of 4% on last year’s figure of 61%. Grades 9-4 are equivalent to the old A*- C grades.

The number achieving the higher 9-5 grades, similar to A* – bottom B/high C, was 53% compared with 47% last year.

The collective score, called an Attainment 8*, for Reading schools was 51, which was up from 49 last year. Reading is significantly above the national average which was 46.5 last year and early indications show that is likely to be similar this year.

This is the first year of GCSE results since education services in Reading have been run by Brighter Futures for Children. The not-for-profit company took over the delivery of children’s services, including children’s social care, early help, education and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) service on behalf of Reading Borough Council in December 2018.

Tony Kildare, Managing Director of Brighter Futures for Children, said:

‘Well done to all pupils and their schools for these excellent results. We hope that you’ve got the grades you wanted to help you with your future choices but, if you didn’t, please don’t worry.

‘In addition to the support your school can offer, we have a service available to all young people in Reading. There are plenty of opportunities still available to you. Our advisory service can offer support and help on further training and apprenticeship opportunities.

‘Our advisors are based in Reading Central Library in Abbey Square on the third floor. You can contact them by email: ParticipationandEngagement@brighterfuturesforchildren.org  or call 01189 372 204.’

Cllr Ashley Pearce, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Education, said:

‘GCSE results day is often a nerve racking but exciting day for our students. It is the culmination of years of hard work from pupils, teachers, parents and governors who are all vital elements in our young people's success. I would like to thank every one of these groups for their hard work in achieving some excellent results.’

*To get the Attainment 8 score, schools add up the points for each student’s 8 subjects and divide by 10 to get their score. A school's Attainment 8 score is the average of all of its students' scores. Students don't have to take 8 subjects, but they score zero for any unfilled slots.

by Helen Fortgang

 More pupils get first choice primary school place this year

Reading’s new children’s company, Brighter Futures for Children, has made sure all primary school pupils in the borough have a place for September, with 87% (1,644 pupils) getting their first choice and only 1% (36 pupils) offered a divert option.

The number of applications for places at Reading’s primary schools has decreased for the third year running but more parents have been allocated their first choice for their children than in previous years.

A total of 2,110 places were available on National Offer Day (16 April ) in Reading primary schools and there were 1,882 applications. This contrasts with the number of secondary school places applied for this year, which left schools oversubscribed, although places were still found for students.

Brighter Futures for Children, which is owned by, but independent of, Reading Borough Council, has reduced the number of pupils offered none of their preferences significantly this year compared with the past three years. For those who couldn’t be offer a place, a divert school has been offered. All divert schools are considered to be within a reasonable distance of the child’s home address.

Late applications have still to be processed.

In addition, there were 159 pupils who needed an infant to junior school transfer. Reading has only two schools for which this transfer is necessary. 99.37% of Reading residents’ on-time applications received their first preference.  There were two pupils who were not offered a place at their preferred school but they are not attending an infant school. Late applications for these, too, still have to be processed.

by Helen Fortgang