Education: Children In Care

Mr. Love
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to improve the educational attainment by children in care.

Beverley Hughes
Our White Paper “Care Matters: Time for Change” sets out how we will improve the education of children in care. We are increasing support for children and young people in care across all children's services. Specific education proposals include: a £500 educational allowance for children in care at risk of falling behind at school; putting the ‘designated teacher’ on a statutory footing to improve the expertise in schools; appointing ‘virtual school heads’ to oversee their education; improving attendance and reducing exclusions; reducing mobility of school placements, particularly in the crucial years before GCSEs; and a bursary of a minimum of £2,000 for all children in care who go on to university.