Proposed Educational Attainment of Looked After Children and Care Leavers Measure

Pre-ballot Information

David Melding

Policy Objectives of the Proposed Measure

The policy objectives of the proposed Measure are to:

- allow preferential treatment for Looked After Children and Care Leavers in selecting Secondary Schools

- provide them with assistance for additional tutoring

- provide an enhanced grant for post-16 education or training

- provide funding for Higher Education course fees and grants

- provide bi-annual individual statements on educational/training progress

Support received

The following support has been received for the proposed Measure:

Voices from Care have welcomed the proposed measure and are happy to lend their support. Interest has been shown by a wide range of bodies and practitioners including the Children’s Commissioner for Wales and NSPCC. Responses are pending from key children’s charities across Wales including Barnardo’s Cymru and Save the Children.

Consultation

The following consultations have been carried which support the measure.

Voices from Care have researched this area extensively and responses are pending from the above organisations.

The ‘TES Time to Care Campaign’ highlighted the main issues in 2005 and this has not been superseded to date.

As local authorities don’t always keep specific figures on the educational attainment of looked after children further research will need to be undertaken in this area to update the available data.