Welcome to the Brighter Futures for Children news pages where you can browse our latest news and archived stories.
15 August 2019
THE number of students achieving A-level grades A*-E has increased in Reading, according to provisional figures collated by Brighter Futures for Children. Ninety eight per cent of students gained A*-E grades this year compared with 94 per cent last year, an increase of 4%. There was a very slight dip in A*-B grades, with 58 …
Continue reading “Record number of Reading pupils get grades A*- E this year”
09 August 2019
Pinecroft, one of two children’s homes run in Reading by the newly-formed Brighter Futures for Children, has been rated as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted after an unannounced inspection visit recently. 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 …
Continue reading “‘Outstanding’ rating for our children’s home”
31 July 2019
An inspirational film, made by and for children in care, got a standing ovation at its premiere in Reading recently. The film, which is almost four minutes long, is an emotional, thought-provoking and ultimately uplifting account of young people’s experiences of coming into care and of being in care. Our young people in care wanted …
Continue reading “Children in care film gets standing ovation”
29 July 2019
Young people in care who took part in an eight-week poetry course, called Spoken Word, Spoken Mind, read their poems out to an invited audience as part of Reading Fringe Festival recently, Brighter Futures for Children worked together with local organisations to bring the project about and provide an opportunity for the children to express …
Continue reading “Young people in care speak out through poetry”
19 July 2019
Ofsted has today (19/7/19) published its findings on its second monitoring visit since Brighter Futures for Children took over children’s services from Reading Borough Council in December 2018. It was their ninth monitoring visit since children’s services were rated inadequate in 2016. Link to Ofsted monitoring visit report Inspectors visited on June 26-27. They reviewed …
Continue reading “Progress is slow but we’re upbeat about our future plans”
27 June 2019
Joint press release with Reading Borough Council A NEW resource centre for children with autism is being officially opened in Reading next week. The Blessed Mary Ward Centre, located at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School in Southcote, will provide 30 places for youngsters with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The new £1.9m provision is part of …
Continue reading “Official Opening of New Autism Resource Centre in Reading”
30 May 2019
Brighter Futures for Children fully recognises the national pressure on funding for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). Since we took over the delivery of the SEND service from Reading Borough Council in December 2018, we have been working hard to ensure the resources we have are focused correctly on the needs of children and …
13 May 2019
Brighter Futures for Children’s fostering team is embarking on a huge campaign during Foster Care Fortnight to encourage more people to become foster carers in Reading. ‘We want everyone in Reading to support our campaign to keep as many of the children who come into our care local,’ said Brighter Futures for Children’s Managing Director …
08 May 2019
Reading’s children’s services’ response to concerns about children at risk is quick and effective, according to a report by Ofsted inspectors published today (8 May). Ofsted inspectors found the service offered by Brighter Futures for Children’s CSPoA (Children’s Single Point of Access) mirrors improvements made when the service was last inspected in 2017. During the …
Continue reading “Ofsted notes speed and effectiveness of response time for children at risk”
16 April 2019
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 …
Continue reading ” More pupils get first choice primary school place this year”