Research Team: Professor Anita Franklin, Sarah Atkins, Dr Louise Bradley, Dr Jo Greenaway-Clarke (University of Portsmouth), Sarah Goff (Ann Craft Trust), and Lucy Rylatt (Safeguarding Children Partnerships, Portsmouth City Council).

This research is looking at the internal trafficking and exploitation of children and young people with SEND in England and Wales under the Modern Slavery Act (2015). The team are looking at where there are gaps in law, policy, guidance, and practice, and how these gaps can be strengthened so this group can be better identified and supported. The project is being funded by The Modern Slavery PEC in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and a brief summary of the project can be found on their website here.

The aims of the research are to:

1) map and analyse relevant laws, policies, and guidance to understand gaps;

2) analyse anonymised recently closed cases of children and young people with SEND where exploitation was suspected to identify risks, vulnerability, and responses; and

3) interview parents and carers of children and young people with SEND who have experienced exploitation to better understand the support they received.

The team will be hosting two online multi-agency consultations for statutory and voluntary sector strategic and frontline practitioners across England and Wales. The consultations will be informed by wider on-the-ground- practice issues and multi-agency responses with reference to children and young people with SEND. The aim is to better understand barriers, facilitators and suggestions for improved law, policy, practice.

The online multi-agency consultations will be held on Wednesday 5th July 2-4 pm and Thursday 6th July 10-12 pm. The consultations will follow the same format on both days, we are just offering two dates to maximise participation based on individuals’ availability. If you are a statutory or voluntary strategic or frontline practitioner and would like to register to join one of these online consultations, please email Louise ([email protected]) and further information will be provided.

Or, if you have any questions or would like more information about the consultations or research project please contact Louise ([email protected]), or Anita ([email protected]) who is leading the research.