§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what progress his Department has made in ensuring that children in the care of local authorities receive the same standard of education as other children. [56068]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Department is working closely with the Department of Health and statutory and voluntary agencies on a range of measures to improve the education of looked after children and raise the level of their attainments. The Government have announced in the National Priorities Guidance for Health and Social Care236W targets for the educational attainment of looked after children: that by 2001 at least 50%of children leaving public care should have achieved a GCSE or GNVQ qualification, and by 2003 at least 75% should have done so. The Department is requiring local education authorities to set their own targets in their Education Development Plans, and will expect individual authorities wherever possible to set themselves more challenging targets. In 1999–2000 the Department will be supporting LEA initiatives to improve the education of looked after children through the Standards Fund, and issuing guidance for schools and local authorities on how to increase their educational opportunities and attainments.