Government slammed over omissions in Children Act

Filkin under fire

Lord Filkin came under fire today for the government’s
failure to place a statutory duty on schools to participate in the
new arrangements set out in Children Act designed to better
integrate services and improve the wellbeing and life chances of
all children, writes Shirley Kumar.

Delegates at the conference in London about the education for
young people in public care highlighted the move could have
significant ramifications for looked after children.

Hampshire team manager Rachel Hughes told the parliamentary
under secretary of state for children and families in the
department for education and skills that it was a “glaring
mistake that threatens to undermine the duty placed on local
authorities to promote the education of children in
care”.

Other attendees said the government was sending out “too
many mixed messages”. The Act fell short of really making a
difference to the educational needs of looked after children, they
added.

Filkin, who admitted that children in care were 10 times more
likely to be excluded from school than other children insisted
there were a number of mechanisms in place to urge schools to
participate.

These measures include a new framework for inspection in schools
to prioritise children in care and new clear guidelines to clarify
head-teachers’ duties in including looked after children
which will be out for consultation in January.