Children in care
ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the government's green paper calling for increased measures to improve the outlook of children in care.
Stakeholder Response: Association of School and College Leaders
ASCL general secretary Dr John Dunford said: "Children in care currently do not have the same life chances as others and schools and colleges must play their part in order to raise expectations and achievements of these children.
"However, it is unrealistic to expect schools and colleges to improve the long-term outcomes for children in care without the full support and co-operation of social services and local authorities.
"There must be equal effort on all sides. Therefore we welcome the government’s emphasis on a coordinated approach to supporting children in care.
"The vast majority of schools and colleges currently do their best to help and support children in care, but the cards are often stacked against the institution because of the frequency with which children move.
"Social services must place a higher priority on stability of schooling when they are placing children in care.
"Then schools and colleges will have a better chance of succeeding with these children.
"Many children in care exhibit behaviour problems from an early age and additional support and resources must be allocated if schools are to successfully educate them."
Stakeholder: Association of Teachers and Lecturers
ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said:
"ATL applauds the government's recognition that schools can’t be allowed to pick and choose their pupils if they are to promote the interests of the most disadvantaged children - children in care.
"We call on the government to extend this principle when it draws-up its new admissions code of practice."
"The government needs to provide support for schools which have little experience of dealing with children in care.
"It must also ensure that schools get clear and consistent messages about the priority to give children in care against other groups of pupils also singed out as priorities by the government, such as gifted and talented pupils, and black boys.
"We support the aim to place every child in care in a good school – that should be the aim for all children.
"But it is important to recognise that the best school for each individual child might not be the school which comes highest in the league table – it could be the closest school, one that provides most pastoral care, a school with the best sports facilities."
Stakeholder Responce: 4Children
Anne Longfield, Chief Executive of
"For too long the most vulnerable children have been let down by the care they have received from the system.
"Statistics show the shocking reality for so many children in care currently with a deficit of outcomes in every area of life.
"'Care Matters' offers a new approach which has the potential to offer joined-up thinking and planning for children.
"A first step towards ensuring that children have the kind of opportunities everyone would want for all children is to bring new responsibilities to local authorities to create joined-up plans and arrangements for children both in and out of school.
"Linking social workers more overtly into the broader children’s service system will also bring major benefits.
"It is, however, in the area of proposed support to prevent children going into care that
"Providing intense support to parents and children at this crucial time can provide the help and framework families need to turn the corner.
"Linking into ongoing family support through newly-created Children’s Centres and
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