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The bill to introduce independent trust schools in England is a distraction from both improving school standards and promoting well-being for children, a children's services leader told the conference last week.

Association of Directors of Social Services vice-president John Coughlan warned that councils should not allow the Education and Inspections Bill to adversely affect their efforts to improve schools and deliver the five outcomes of Every Child Matters.

He also criticised the bill's failure to refer to the 2003 children's green paper and the "phoney war" some identified between Every Child Matters and school standards.

Coughlan, children's services director at Hampshire Council, said its school improvement officers had emphasised that the five outcomes were crucial to raising standards.

He also questioned the bill's call for independent choice advisers to be appointed to help disadvantaged parents choose schools.