§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has given any guidance to social service departments on the advisability of informing head teachers of schools when a child is notified to social service departments as being at risk; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonGuidance issued by the Department recommends that the decision whether the responsible agencies should regard a child as at risk of abuse should be taken at a case conference of the professionals, including teachers, concerned with the particular child and his family. In May we issued new draft guidance on child abuse procedures and we are now considering the comments received. Communication with the head teacher is one of the subjects which will be covered in the final version which we hope to issue in the spring.