§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what collaborative work he is undertaking with Health Ministers to ensure that all looked-after children receive a high-quality education. [88851]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Department of Education and Employment and the Department of Health are committed to raising the standards of education achieved by looked-after children, to bring these much more closely into line with those of their peers. Local authorities, as corporate parents, have a key role to play. We are currently consulting on draft guidance to local authorities about the education of looked-after children, stressing that
local authority social services and education departments need to work effectively together to support children's educational needs;every school should have a designated teacher to liaise with social services;every looked-after child should have a Personal Education Plan-recording long-term aspirations as well as short-term objectives;care placements should be made only where education provision is also secured.This guidance is one element in the joint strategy of the two Departments, channelled primarily through the Quality Protects programme, and Standards fund provision for school inclusion and special educational needs. Over the next few months, we will be developing that strategy in the light of consultation responses, to ensure effective implementation.