Commenting on reports that a third of referrals from children’s social care resulted in No Further Action, James Bowen, Director of Policy at school leaders’ union, NAHT said: “When schools refer a child to social care, it takes place only when a professional who really knows that child, has thought long and hard before asking for external support. So it is a real worry if around a third of those referrals result in no further action.

“The reality is that the needs of that child and family do not go away, and someone has to step in. Currently, that almost always leaves schools to take responsibility themselves and while there is a role here for schools, expecting them to take sole responsibility is simply not sustainable.

“We know that social care services are under enormous pressure with social workers already trying to manage incredibly high caseloads. It is an enormous concern that a lack of resources is having an impact on the support that vulnerable children and families receive. Social care services need to be properly funded so that every child and family that needs support is able to receive it in a timely manner."

In its submission to the Independent view of children’s social care published last year, school leaders’ union NAHT made a number of key recommendations:

• There should be an understanding that significant numbers of children and young people who could and should have been supported in social care services, were not – and that their voice should be listened to, in order to effect change
• There are additional challenges for some children whose specific special educational needs could result in receiving less successful support. Improved links with schools and colleges – including shared professional learning and training - can play a role in ensuring greater successes in the future
• The review needed to speak to children and young people who had difficult times whilst in the social care system. We need to gain more evidence on how they are placed within the system and better shared learnings will help to pinpoint its blindspots.
• Engaging and speaking directly to alternative provision and specialist provision practitioners will assist the review in directly engaging with such children and young people.