The ADCS Annual Conference took place in Manchester one week after the General Election. The new secretary of state for education, Bridget Phillipson, addressed delegates virtually, referencing a recent ADCS policy paper, Childhood Matters, and committing to a cross-government child poverty reduction strategy. We must go further to eradicate poverty which can intensify the challenges children and families face.

Sessions covered included social justice, particularly our role as leaders in driving this important agenda, children's social care reform, where we heard insights from colleagues who are pathfinding and piloting aspects of the reform programme, keeping children in education, a future system of special education need and disability (SEND), and much more.