Live consultations

Government asks voluntary sector for advice on cost-effectiveness   The deadline for reponses is 20 August 2010.

Consultation on the National Lottery Shares   The government is considering reducing the share of the National Lottery's good cause funding from 50 to 40 per cent. They are seeking views on how people believe the funding should be allocated. Closing date 21 August 2010.

The Children's Society Fatherhood Commission   The Children’s Society is undertaking a review of fathers’ involvement in children’s lives and the ways in which this can affect children’s well-being. They are gathering evidence throughout August and submissions can be made via post or online. Deadline for submissions is 31 August 2010.

Spending Challenge   The coalition government also wants your ideas on how you'd like to change government spending. Submit, comment and vote on what you'd like to change. Submit suggestions by 31 August 2010.

Independent review of the Early Years Foundation Stage   Calling for evidence on how best to protect young children’s safety and welfare and support their development and learning. Covers four areas: scope of regulation, learning and development, assessment, and welfare. Submit contributions by 30 September 2010.

Family Justice Review   The call for evidence is seeking views on key areas of the family justice system, including how to have a more user-friendly and child-focused system, the best methods of resolving family disputes using alternatives to the legal process, and how the system is governed, managed and funded. Contribute by 30 September 2010.

Independent Review of the Office of the Children's Commissioner - Call for Evidence   A review of the powers, remit and functions of the Children's Commissioner, how this role relates to other functions supported by Government and its value for money. Contribute by 4 October 2010.

A Simplified Further Education and Skills Funding System and Methodology   The consultation examines ways in which the funding system and methodology for post-19 further education and skills can be simplified to ensure greater transparency for learners and employers and reduce burdens on Further Education colleges and training organisations aiding them to deliver high quality further education and skills training. Respond by 14 October 2010.

Future direction of skills   Preparing for a strategy to be released after the Autumn Spending Review, the Department for Business, Industry and Skills welcomes your views on where you think public investment is most valuable, how the skills system can be made simpler and more effective, and your ideas on how to better support employers and individuals to invest in learning and develop the skills they and our economy need. Respond by 14 October 2010.

School Funding 2011-12: Introducing a Pupil Premium   The consultation seeks views on the overall funding methodology and puts forward options for how elements of the pupil premium should operate.  Submit contributions by 18 October 2010.

Objections to statutory proposals for school organisation   This consultation document seeks your views on reducing the time available for individuals to object to published proposals which involve school organisation in Wales. Submit your views by 5 November 2010.

The Family Commission   Have your say about the future of family policy. 4Children launched The Family Commission earlier in the year and would very much like your input into this enquiry.

Review on poverty & life chances   Frank Field has been appointed Csar of child poverty. In his review, he wants to replace the current measure of child poverty (presently 60 per cent of median earnings) with a ‘life chances’ index measuring ‘parenting, school readiness — such as being able to hold a crayon or sit still — and progress through education’ (see the Times Online article here). In a Guardian.co.uk article by Patrick Wintour, David Miliband warns him not to drop the target.

Review of children’s social work & frontline child protection practice   At the request of Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove and Families and Children Minister Tim Loughton, Professor Eileen Munro will make recommendations in April 2011 after reviewing how to improve child protection at the front line. Ed Balls says any overhaul of child protection will cut the rules and procedures book in half for social workers enabling them to do their work at the frontline with vulnerable families more effectively. Read the article by Rachel Williams at guardian.co.uk here.

Sign up to Play England's Manifesto for children's play   Did you play outside near your home every day when you were a child? Only 21 per cent of children can do that today. It doesn’t have to be like this. Be part of Play England's efforts to secure children's freedom and space to play.

Interested in being involved in and contributing to the development of policy around funding, training and quality of childcare?   Here’s an invitation to join non-partisan Day Nursery Policy Group.

C4EO is collating examples of effective local practice for early intervention, which will be combined with a rapid review of existing evidence.  A final report will be published in June 2010.  Sector Specialists for Early Intervention will also be available to offer tailored support to local areas who request it. To find out more about C4EO's Early Intervention, Prevention and Integrated Delivery work and early findings so far, visit the C4EO website

Review of Teacher Education in Scotland   This review has interactive forums on its website so that educational professionals can give feedback easily. Final report expected by the end of the year.

Your Freedom   The coalition government wants your ideas on what your laws you would like to change or even get abolish. Submit, comment and vote on what you want to be different.

Older consultations 

Munro Review of child protection: better front-line services to protect children   Calling for evidence of: identifying and helping children and young people in need; improved social work practice in assessing and helping children, young people and their families; strategies for assisting social workers; strategies for shared learning; approaches to care discussions; and improving transparency.

Should Asbos be abolished?   Guardian poll 28 July 2010

The Pupil and Parent Guarantees (PPG) consultation  

Extending the Eligibility of Free School Meals   Give your views on the draft regulations and proposed arrangements to extend free school meals eligibility to primary school children from low income families.

Recording and Reporting Incidents of Bullying Between Pupils, and Incidents of Abuse against School Staff   The DCSF wants to ensure that the new duties meet its central policy objective which is to keep school staff and pupils safe from bullying and harassment, while at the same time keeping any additional bureaucratic burdens on schools to a minimum. England only. Closing date: 4 March 2010.

Digital technologies, reading for pleasure and adult learning (The Reading Agency survey)   Do you use games or other digital technologies with your adult learners? Complete The Reading Agency's short survey by Tuesday 9 March and you’ll have the chance to win a free copy of Screens and Pages: Technology and Reading for Pleasure by Sal McKeown, Mary Moss and Tracy Slawson.

Live consultation: Working Together to Safeguard Children   Have your say on the revised draft guidance, which addresses 17 of Lord Laming's recommendations, as indicated in the National Safeguarding Delivery Unit's earlier pre-consultation.  Launched today (18 December). Closing date: 11 February 2010.

National Commissioning Framework Consultation   The National Commissioning Framework (NCF) will set out the core systems for planning, commissioning, procuring and funding for the education and training for 16-19 year olds, young people up to age 25 where a learning difficulty assessment is in place, and young offenders in youth custody. A draft of the full NCF has been published for consultation. The consultation runs until 17:00 on 5 February 2010.

Consultation on Changes to the Secondary Legislation and Supporting Children's Learning Code of Practice (Scotland)   Views needed from multi-agency planners, educators, health and social practitioners, and professionals in other integrated agencies. Closing Date: Friday 8 January 2010

Consultation on New Statutory Children's Trust Guidance and New Children and Young People's Plan Regulations  Closing date: 29 January 2010

Drugs: Guidance for Schools   The purpose of this consultation is to gather views on the draft document, Drugs: Guidance for Schools, which provides guidance to maintained primary, secondary, special schools and pupil referral units (PRUs) in England on all matters relating to drug education and the management of drugs within the school community.  Closing Date: Monday 15 February 2010.

Health and Safety of Learners Outside the Classroom (HASLOC) - Revision of guidance
Closing Date: Monday 8 February 2010

Consultation on a draft Gypsy Traveller Strategy   The Gypsy Traveller team within the Welsh Assembly Government has developed a draft strategy aiming for future policy direction around several policy areas in relation to Gypsy Travellers; these include education, health, participation and advocacy, planning, accommodation and unauthorised encampments. The Gypsy Traveller team hopes to open the consultation period in August for a period of 12 weeks.

Ending child poverty: making it happen   Consultation closed. Contact HM Treasury about results.

Proposed changes to the delivery of local authorities' and FRAs' freedoms and flexibilities after the introduction of Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA)   Launched on 6 May 2009 this consultation paper is aimed at English local authorities and includes, among other proposals, plans to reduce or simplify the requirement to create plans for central government on issues such as local transport, youth justice and air quality. It closed on 28 July 2009. Contact Communities and Local Government to find out more about the results of this consultation.

Complaints about Ofsted’s work: proposed improvements to the process:   Ofsted is reviewing arrangements for handling and investigation concerns about its work and the conduct of its staff. The consultation outlines how Ofsted proposes developing its complaints procedures. It aims to achieve a transparent process that is fair, accessible, and makes the best use of the valuable information provided by complainants to improve the service provided to children, young people and learners of all ages. The closing date for the consultation is 13 January 2010.

Consultation launched on ContactPoint   On 2 October, Children’s Minister Delyth Morgan launched a consultation to update the rules governing ContactPoint. The consultation will last for twelve weeks.

Have your say about improving the 'common core'   (The 'common core' refers to government guidelines that ensure everyone who works with children and young people has the basic skills and knowledge to do their work.) People have been contributing their ideas by filling out a questionnaire at the Children's Workforce Development Council website. This consultation has now closed and the 'common core' guidelines will be published again in March 2010.

Consultation on Every School A Good School: The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Inclusion   The Northern Ireland Department of Education is inviting comments on policy proposals that have emerged from the Review of Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Inclusion. The policy proposals are contained in the consultation document ‘Every School a Good School: The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Inclusion’. If you still want to have your say, note that this consultation closes on 31 October.