Teachers slam local government leaders

A teaching union has accused council leaders of “breathtaking
arrogance” for looking to extend to schools the duty in the
Children Bill covering co-operation on improving children’s
well-being.

A coalition including the Local Government Association and
representatives from social services, the police, children’s
charities and school governors, signed a statement seeking the
amendment to the Children Bill last month.

But Chris Keates, acting general secretary of teachers’ union
Nasuwt, said: “Schools certainly do not need the LGA to remind them
of the importance of protecting the interests of pupils.”

He added that the union would be seeking assurances from the
government that no extra “regulatory burden” would be placed on
schools.