Looked-After Children

The national priorities for action involve developing a new deal for foster care to help improve the recruitment of foster carers, ensure we retain them, and recognise the important contribution that they make. The overall package includes:

Reviewing the provision for looked-after children and identifying priorities for improvement should form a key part of the local needs analysis process and the children and young people's plan (CYPP) which every authority is required to have in place by April 2006. Strategies for supporting looked-after children and young people will vary according to local circumstances, but there will be certain common themes, in line with the Every Child Matters ethos.

Local strategies should have the participation of the young people themselves at their heart. All looked-after children and young people should be in appropriate education, with the right support at home and in school to achieve their potential. They should have more choice about where they live and should move placements only when it is in their interest to do so.

Local authorities should work closely with their partners in other agencies so that the needs of looked-after children are clearly identified and met at every level. That encompasses the strategic planning level, commissioning processes, and the integrated delivery of services. Directors of children's services and lead members for children's services should take personal responsibility on behalf of the authority for improving the full range of support offered to the children in their care, and those leaving it.

Local authorities have a new duty under the Children Act 2004 to promote the educational achievement of looked-after children as well as safeguarding and promoting their welfare (from June 2005). Consultation on how authorities can support the new duty ended on 9 June 2005. Guidance will be issued shortly.

Choice Protects was launched in March 2002 to improve outcomes for looked-after children through providing better placement stability, matching and choice.

Adoption and Children Act 2002

Commissioning Placements and Services for Looked After Children and Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Residential Placements (note that this document was revised in June 2005).

A Better Education for Children in Care (Social Exclusion Unit report, 2003)