Research and analysis

Children’s services omnibus

A summary of responses from senior leaders in local authorities to questions asked in waves 1 to 6 of the children’s services omnibus survey.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 3 August 2017
• Last updated: 15 December 2022 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Children’s services omnibus: wave 1

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78105-703-2, DFE-RR643

PDF, 4.67 MB, 70 pages

Children’s services omnibus: wave 2

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78105-824-4, DFE-RR643

PDF, 448 KB, 64 pages

Children’s services omnibus: wave 3

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78105-889-3, DFE-RR643

PDF, 1.11 MB, 73 pages

Children’s services omnibus: wave 4

Ref: ISBN 978-1-78105-967-8, DFE-RR643

PDF, 933 KB, 80 pages

Children’s services omnibus: wave 5

Ref: ISBN 978-1-83870-114-7, DFE-RR990

PDF, 2.58 MB, 63 pages

Children’s services omnibus: wave 6

Ref: ISBN 978-1-83870-418-6, DFE-RR1304

PDF, 564 KB, 52 pages

Details

Topics covered in wave 1 of the children’s services omnibus survey include:

• understanding demand for children’s social care services
• support for adopters and special guardians
• monitoring of the early years and childcare workforce
• assessment of the sufficiency of childcare places
• systems for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Topics covered in wave 2 include:

• reducing demand for children’s social care services
• assessment of mental health needs
• care orders, supervision orders and special guardianship orders
• early years entitlement and early years workforce training
• business sustainability support to childcare providers
• challenges when providing special educational needs services

Topics covered in wave 3 include:

• social worker workforce
• multi-agency arrangements
• sufficiency of care/adoption placements
• early years home learning environment and parenting programmes
• recruitment of early years staff
• development of education, health and care plans
• short breaks for disabled children and their families

Topics covered in wave 4 include:

• using independent schools for looked-after children
• child protection and children in need
• personal advisers for those leaving care
• multi-agency arrangements
• early education entitlements
• monitoring special educational needs services

Topics covered in wave 5 include:

• social care workforce
• implementation of the 2014 SEND reforms
• early years pupil premium
• use of children’s social care data
• home learning environment
• local authority leadership

Topics covered in wave 6 include:

• social worker workforce
• challenges in children’s social care
• sufficiency of care and adoption placements
• ensuring sufficient SEN provision
• preparation for adulthood

Published 3 August 2017
Last updated 15 December 2022 + show all updates

1. 15 December 2022

   The Wave 6 report has been added.

2. 30 July 2020

   Added Wave 5 report.

3. 10 December 2018

   Added the Wave 4 report.

4. 17 May 2018

   Added wave 3 research report.

5. 27 November 2017

   Added the wave 2 document.

6. 3 August 2017

   First published.