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Councils failing to cut teenage pregnancy rates were urged this week to adopt best practice from successful authorities that have targeted support at vulnerable children such as those in care.

As part of the government’s drive to tackle social exclusion, children’s minister Beverley Hughes highlighted several councils that were performing better than the rest, including Thurrock and Gateshead.

Thurrock, to the east of London, has a specialist health worker for vulnerable young people, such as children in care, while Gateshead has dedicated sexual health workers for looked-after children.

Hughes welcomed the 11.1 per cent reduction in teenage pregnancy rates in England since the launch of the government’s teenage pregnancy strategy in 1999, but said the improvement would have been greater if all councils had performed as well as the top quarter.

● Teenage Pregnancy: Accelerating the Strategy to 2010