Join a focus group talking about practical and inclusive ways to identify and measure the impact of supporting ‘vulnerable’ children, young people and learners.
We want to hear from professionals who work in health, police, or organisations that provide guidance, advice, advocacy, or other forms of support to children and young people. We also welcome professionals working in the education or social care sectors, that are not regulated or inspected by Ofsted. This includes national organisations, workforce development organisations and others.
Invitation to join a focus group
Join us on the 5 February, 11:30-13:00 where we will share learning from the sector. We will also test the ‘working definition’ of vulnerability and talk about practical and inclusive ways to identify and measure the impact of supporting ‘vulnerable’ children, young people and learners.
Before requesting a place, please review the participant information and Ofsted's Terms of Reference.
You will be sent a consent form to sign and return. For any clarification or questions, please email vulnerabilityproject@researchinpractice.org.uk.
Your views matter
We know that there are many people working in organisations that are not regulated or inspected by Ofsted, and who are interested in contributing their views to the work of this project. We welcome your insights and hope that you can join us for the focus group discussion. This session is an opportunity to discuss an emerging working definition of ‘vulnerability’ and consider the implications for practice and for regulation and inspection.
We have spoken with professionals across sectors for early years, education (including further education) and social care sectors in settings and organisations that are regulated and inspected by Ofsted.
We are also speaking with children, young people, adult learners, parents and carers.
About the project
There is an ambition to have an increased focus on how providers are meeting the needs of vulnerable children, learners and young people, in response to the Ofsted Big Listen.
Research in Practice is leading a project to help Ofsted develop an evidence-informed conceptualisation of vulnerability and inclusion. This will be used for consideration in inspection and regulatory work in education and children’s social care.
Conceptualising vulnerability and inclusion
In our short video below, Alice Jones introduces some of the work that has already started as part of the project.
You can read further information about the project from Ofsted.
We are delighted that this work is supported by an Academic Reference Panel, consisting of:
- Prof. Claudia Bernard, Goldsmiths University of London – Professor of Social Work and Head of Postgraduate Research.
- Prof. Janet Boddy, University of Sussex - Professor of Child, Youth and Family Studies (Education).
- Prof. Christine Cocker, University of East Anglia - Professor in Social Work and Head of the School of Social Work.
- Dr. Carlene Cornish, University of East Anglia - Co-Chair of the Vice Chancellor's Taskforce on Race Equality and Co-Chair of the Academic Staff Workstream on Race Equality.
- Prof. Leon Feinstein, Rees Centre / University of Oxford - Professor of Education and Children’s Social Care and Director of the Rees Centre.
- Prof. Neil Harrison, University of Exeter - Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education.
- Jude Hillary, NFER - Co-Head of UK Policy and Practice and Head of Education Systems and Structures and Optimal Pathways.
- Prof. Rick Hood, Kingston University - Professor of Social Work.
- Dr. Craig Johnston, University of West of England - Senior lecturer at University of West of England.
- Prof. Kristi Langhoff, University of Sussex - Professor of Social Work (Social Work and Social Care) & Interim Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Knowledge Exchange.
- Dr. Birgit Larsson, University of East Anglia - Associate Professor in Social Work and Sociology.
How can Ofsted conceptualise ‘vulnerability’ in its work within the education and social care sectors? New dates added
There is an ambition to increase Ofsted’s focus on how providers are meeting the needs of vulnerable children, learners and young people. We want to hear from professionals at all levels, across the education and social care sectors. Join a series of online focus groups.