Looked after children must be given same opportunities, minister says

Looked after children should be able to access the same
opportunities as other children, according to the minister for
education and young people Cathy Jamieson.

Jamieson said: “I want to see every child get the opportunities
required to reach his or her full potential. Looked after children
are amongst the most vulnerable young people in Scotland, and we
have a particular responsibility to help meet their needs.”

She said that £10 million had been invested to improve the
educational facilities available to looked after young people, and
said the eventual aim would be to ensure children in care perform
as well as their peers at school.

Jamieson said there were a small number of children in Scotland
in secure accommodation, and confirmed the ministerial working
group on youth crime, established last week, would look at the
secure accommodation estate, and establish whether the right
provision was there to help young people.

The working group will consist of Jamieson, deputy first
minister Jim Wallace, minister for social justice Margaret Curran,
the Lord Advocate Colin Boyd, and will be chaired by first minister
Jack McConnell. It will meet for the first time this week.