ARC Chair Update - December 2025

As the Autumn school term draws to a close, I would like to wish all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Overall, 2025 has provided a growing optimism as ‘Inclusion’ and ‘Belonging’ are becoming increasingly more recognised, understood and planned for across the system supporting our children and young people. As I often state, we must ensure the ‘silent majority of settings and services that have a relational focussed approach continue to raise the volume of their voice and continue to help to support, influence and model for others. The challenge of connecting across the system remains, but there are some really positive examples of this emerging across the country.

I was really pleased to represent ARC at the London VRU Inclusion event hosted at Bishop Pastor Catholic College. This showcased some excellent strategic and operational practice. It was inspiring to hear how an ARC Timpson National Award Winner, Lewisham Virtual School, have developed their Relationally Safe Schools offer. This very much integrated with the other services across Lewisham and clearly demonstrated the strength and benefits of a connected model for schools and settings.

The London Violence Reduction Unit also hosted a focus Trauma Informed event at City Hall. This gathering brought together professionals from education, health, social care and criminal justice and effectively raised not only awareness of the positive effective of relational-focussed approach, but rightly celebrated the promising improvement in violent juvenile crime across the capital.

I am very keen to share other integrated programmes and offers from all parts of the country – please do get in touch so I can share your offer at andrew@the-arc.org.uk

I was delighted to contribute to the NAVSH webinar – A Wider Offer, to not only share the benefits of being part of the ARC community but also highlight the great work that is in place around using the Arts to help support a sense of belonging, self-worth and raising confidence that has been developed alongside key partners including Arts Connect, The Mighty Creatives, the Share Foundation and the West Midlands CiC Foundation.

It is not only the Arts that can help our children and young people to be engaged in education, but also developing a wider curriculum offer. This extended learning offer is being enhanced by organisations such as ASDAN who are sharing their approaches through their Cross Sector Lab on-line events.

ARC continues to support HE and ITT institutions at the annual UCET Conference in Leeds. We were represented by Dr Lisa Gentles, Andy Bloor and Jane Bradley.

At a local level, ARC continue to work closely with individual schools or Virtual Schools/Local Authorities. I was particularly encouraged to hear the approaches adopted and being developed by the Virtual Schools of Solihull and Hertfordshire at gatherings attended by ARC.

Finally, I would like to thank each and every one of you for all of your hard work, commitment, belief and dedication over 2025.

I wish you an enjoyable and relaxing festive break and a peaceful 2026.

Go Back