Vulnerable children are to receive improved support when moving school during term time, in new measures to reduce time spent out of the classroom.

Proposed changes to the School Admissions Code outlined today (26 June) include a new turnaround of 10 school days for a decision on an in-year application and clearly defined timescales for each stage of the process.

While these measures will apply to all children moving school during the academic year, including those of Armed Forces Personnel, vulnerable children and those in care are much more likely to move school outside of the usual timeframes.

There will also be greater clarity for parents or carers on how applications can be made during term time, how the council or admissions authority will handle requests and how decisions can be appealed.

The code is also being amended to prioritise children adopted from state care outside of England and make sure they benefit from the same experience and opportunity in accessing a school place as those adopted domestically.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said:

We remain determined to support the most vulnerable pupils to reach their potential in school and beyond, which is why we are aiming to reduce the time spent outside the classroom when a child needs to move school during term time.

These changes aim to speed up the process for vulnerable pupils and make it easier to secure a school place when they need one, as we continue to focus on delivering more good school places for pupils and parents.

The proposals are now open for an extended consultation period of sixteen weeks to ensure schools, local authorities, parents, social workers and charitable organisations have sufficient opportunity to submit their responses.

Tomas Thurogood-Hyde, Head of Governance and Legal at Astrea Academy Trust said:

In-year admissions and the Fair Access Protocol are relied upon by thousands of children each year and they are often doubly vulnerable – not only are they between school places and therefore out of education, but there is often an underlying contributor to this. Children might be new to the country or have been recently re-housed and those who come before Fair Access panels might have been excluded or have unmet needs.

Providing greater consistency for these children, whilst allowing a diverse system of admission authorities to collaborate according to local needs, is a timely and important step forward in ensuring equity for the children who need it most.

Councillor Abtisam Mohamed, Cabinet Member for Children & Families for Sheffield City Council said:

I am sure that local authorities will welcome the review of the School Admissions Code which will look to provide a more robust framework for in-year admission and Fair Access Protocols.

Such changes have the potential to really help local authorities advocate for vulnerable children and families more effectively.

As part of ongoing flood management it is occasionally necessary for trees and bushes to be removed from flood banks. This is to ensure flood bank assets are able to be maintained and easily assessed for damage.

The Environment Agency’s Flood and Coastal Risk Management team has provided the extra funding to replace any greenery that has been removed due to flood maintenance and pay for additional shrubs and trees.

So far this year Environment Agency officers have helped plant almost 1,000 trees across the Great Ouse and Fenland catchment and would like help from angling clubs to install even more.

Alex Malcolm, Environment Agency fisheries officer in East Anglia, said: “We know the importance of the interaction of trees and waterbodies as they provide cover and shelter from predation, spawning substance and food sources.

“Additionally when branches fall they can provide fantastic opportunities for cover and provide additional spawning habitat by scouring gravels in high flows.”

The Environment Agency is looking for fishery owners who would be interested in planting trees on their sections of rivers/lakes and would be prepared to take on the maintenance of the trees in the future.

Alex added: “We do have limited funds so we may not be able to help everyone this time around but hope to build a database of suitable fisheries that we can help in the future.

“We will supply the trees or hedge plants free of charge, which will be UK grown native species, along with the appropriate planting materials such as wooden stakes and rabbit guards.

“We would expect the angling club or fishery to arrange the trees to be planted in areas agreed with our team and any associated permits and permissions where needed.”

If you are interested in receiving some trees or hedges for your fishery then email angcentral.frb@environment-agency.gov.uk and indicate the name and location of the fishery, why you think this area would be suitable for tree planting and your contact details.

This work wouldn’t be possible without fishing licence money so make sure you buy yours here: https://www.gov.uk/fishing-licences

The 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council reconvened from 15 to 22 June following its suspension on 13 March due to COVID-19. It is a testament to the hard work and creativity of the HRC President and the HRC Secretariat that the session was able to resume, including in a partly virtual format. Now more than ever, the work of the Council to promote and protect human rights around the world is essential.

COVID-19, and the measures needed to combat it, will have a profound effect on individuals and societies, and impact on people’s enjoyment of their human rights. As we tackle this crisis together, states must respect their human rights obligations, take steps to mitigate its disproportionate effects on the most vulnerable in our societies, and actively include women and disadvantaged groups in the response and recovery.

The global protests following the tragic killing of George Floyd have shown we all need to work harder to combat racism. During the reconvened session, and during an Urgent Debate on the subject, the UK reaffirmed our commitment to doing just that. Internationally, we will continue to be one of the strongest advocates for those United Nations mechanisms that help to combat racism. At home, we will work to create a fair society where all people, regardless of ethnic origin or background, are valued and able to participate fully.

The UK delivered a national statement setting out our serious concerns on Hong Kong. China’s plan to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong would undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy and could threaten its rights and freedoms. The imposition of the proposed law lies in direct conflict with China’s international obligations under the Joint Declaration. We urge China to engage with Hong Kong’s people, institutions, and judiciary to ensure it maintains Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms.

I welcome the adoption of the resolution establishing an independent, international fact finding mission in Libya, with Libya’s cooperation. This represents much-needed progress towards accountability for all human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, amid concerning reports of reprisal attacks, continuing civilian casualties and the existence of mass graves. All parties must commit to a ceasefire and return to the UN-led political process.

I am delighted that the Council renewed, by consensus, the mandate of the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, with South Sudan’s constructive cooperation. With significant increases in intercommunal violence, systemic sexual and gender-based violence and a dire humanitarian situation exacerbated by COVID 19, the Commission plays a vital role in monitoring human rights, tackling impunity and supporting implementation of South Sudan’s peace deal. We look forward to the Transitional Government’s continued cooperation.

I am pleased that once again the Council adopted a resolution on Syria, renewing the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry. The human rights situation there remains of grave concern. All parties must abide by the agreed ceasefires, and by international law, in order to protect civilians.

I welcome the adoption of the resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. I urge the authorities to implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission, the Independent Commission of Enquiry and to comply with the ICJ’s provisional measures. This is essential to create the conditions for voluntary, safe and dignified returns. We strongly support the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar.

The UK opposes the proposed annexation of any parts of the West Bank and we remain committed to a two state solution. We support justified scrutiny of Israel and the OPTs under appropriate agenda items, but continue to be concerned by the Council’s disproportionate focus on Israel.

I also welcome the renewal of the mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the DPRK, the Independent Expert for Mali, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, and the resolution on the human rights situation in Nicaragua. I am pleased that the HRC adopted a resolution on the continuing technical co-operation on human rights monitoring in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

In these extraordinarily difficult times, the Human Rights Council plays a crucial in bringing states together to protect and promote human rights. The UK will seek election to the Council later this year, in a reaffirmation of our strong commitment to work to with the Council to hold to account those who violate and abuse human rights.

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