The final report was published of an independent review of qualifications for young people in Wales aged 14–19. It recommended building on and strengthening the Welsh baccalaureate.
Source: Review of Qualifications for 14 to 19-Year-Olds in Wales: Final Report and Recommendations, Welsh Government
Links: Report | Welsh Government press release | NASUWT press release | NUT press release | Plaid Cymru press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Nov
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales made a series of recommendations for improving adoption services.
Source: Inquiry into Adoption, Children and Young People Committee, National Assembly for Wales
Links: Report
Date: 2012-Nov
Researchers provided a positive assessment of a pilot scheme under which Jobcentre Plus advisory services were embedded in children's centres in Communities First areas.
Source: Beth Foley, Helen Stevens, and Becci Newton, Evaluation of Jobcentre Plus Advisory Services in Integrated Children's Centres in Communities First Areas, Research Paper 33/2012, Welsh Government
Date: 2012-Oct
The children's rights watchdog in Wales published its first child poverty strategy. The strategy outlined a child-centred approach to tackling poverty. Although the watchdog praised the work of schools and community projects supported by the Communities First programme, it raised concerns over the Welsh Government's decision to incorporate action on tackling child poverty into an overarching plan covering children and adults.
Source: Child Poverty Strategy: 2012 Onwards, Children's Commissioner for Wales
Links: Report | CCW press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Oct
A report summarized the key issues and messages from four case studies of 'inspiring practice' in family and parenting support. The case studies were drawn from Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Poland, and Wales.
Source: Juliet Ramage, Early Intervention and Prevention in Family Support: Synthesis Report, Eurochild
Links: Report | Eurochild press release
Date: 2012-Oct
The Welsh Government began consultation on proposals to improve youth justice services in Wales, and to identify if there was a need for a Prevention of Youth Offending (Wales) Bill.
Source: Proposals to Improve Services in Wales to Better Meet the Needs of Children and Young People Who Are at Risk of Entering, or Are Already in, the Youth Justice System: Green Paper, Welsh Government
Links: Consultation document | Welsh Government press release
Date: 2012-Sep
An article examined the notion of 'community parenting' in one neighbourhood in south Wales. It highlighted the fact that parenting was carried out within a local social, material, and cultural context, and was not solely reliant on individual skills.
Source: Rhiannon Evans and Sally Holland, 'Community parenting and the informal safeguarding of children at neighbourhood level', Families, Relationships and Societies, Volume 1 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
