HC Deb 24 November 2000 vol 357 cc365-6W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what services are available offering counselling, advice and protection to children in schools; and if he will make a statement on the adequacy of such services. [139658]

Jacqui Smith

The Government are substantially increasing the resources available to schools to offer personal support to children. Learning Mentors have already been introduced in nearly 500 city secondary schools through our Excellence in Cities initiative. As the initiative is extended in the next school year, we are enabling city secondary schools to employ 1,500 Learning Mentors in a total of 1,000 secondary schools. That will mean that one third of all secondary school pupils will be covered by the programme. Learning Mentors help young people overcome barriers to learning, both inside and outside school.

The new Connexions service will operate from April next year. It is a major new advice, guidance and support service for young people aged 13–19. Its aim is to connect and reconnect young people with learning, and help them to make a successful transition to adult life.

The Children's Fund, announced last week and worth £450 million over three years, will lead the Government's policy on preventing poverty and disadvantage for children and young people. The majority of the Fund will be targeted on preventive work with children (primarily in the 5 to 13 age group) and their families, helping them before they hit crisis. £70 million of the Fund will be distributed directly to local communities through a network of local funds administered by the voluntary sector itself.

The Government take child protection seriously and have made recommendations to local education authorities and schools about protecting children from abuse. These include that all schools should have a child protection policy; that schools should have a designated member of staff responsible for co-ordinating action within the school and liaising with other agencies; and procedures to be followed if a member of staff is accused of abuse.

Schools are also encouraged to support the emotional health and well-being of children through the National Health School Standard.