By Rosemary Webb and Graham VulliamyThis report presents the findings of a project where five social work trained home-school support workers gave support over a three year period to 208 pupils at risk of exclusion in seven schools. The rationale for the project was that by reducing rates of exclusion future offending behaviour might be reduced. Casework with between ten and twenty pupils with challenging behaviours formed the core of the support workers’ role. Through their casework and crisis management support workers contributed to developing a school environment more tolerant of pupils with challenging behaviours.

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Professor Celia Hoyles OBE has been appointed as Chief Adviser for Mathematics in the Department for Education and Skills. She will take the lead in developing and delivering the mathematics strategy outlined in the response to the Inquiry into Post-14 Mathematics Education. Her task will be to revitalise and raise the profile of the study of mathematics.She will be concerned with mathematics education from early years, through to schools, higher and further education and the adult skills agenda. This will involve working closely with key stakeholders to implement the commitments made in the Government’s response to ‘Making Mathematics Count’.

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Research by the Department of Work and Pensions has revealed a league table of crime. Offences committed against another person, for example victims of drink driving accidents or burglary top the league. Next comes benefit fraud with its own league table. Housing benefit fraud was thought to be the most serious because it is a deliberate and systematic fraud, followed by Incapacity Benefit fraud and Jobseekers’ Allowance fraud. Fraudulent claims for state pension were seen as the least serious. At the lower end of the crime league were insurance fraud, TV license fee evasion, tax evasion and shoplifting.The way people viewed fraud, both in the minds of the general public and of fraudsters themselves, meant there was more sympathy for those in greatest need who commit fraud. A single person who is working and claiming benefit was felt to be committing a much more serious offence than a person who had children and whose motivation was driven by need rather than greed. The report shows that people believe that fraudsters should be compelled to put something back into society, especially if they have a skill or expertise that could benefit the community. Community service orders are therefore favoured.

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