Surrey Liberal Democrats call for urgent action to stop the County Council failing children in its care (Esher and Walton Liberal Democrats)

Esher and Walton Liberal Democrats <info@esherandwaltonlibdems.org.uk>

Surrey Liberal Democrats call for urgent action to stop the County Council failing children in its care

December 12, 2011 8:57 PM

Three years after the County Council's Children's Services were judged "inadequate" by OFSTED, Conservative run Surrey County Council is still failing its looked after children.

Three years after the County Council's Children's Services were judged "inadequate" by OFSTED, Conservative run Surrey County Council is still failing its looked after children.

The Child in Care and Adoption Performance Tables published last month by the Department for Education show that the County Council is not performing well on many of its responsibilities for children in care and adoption when compared with other councils across the country.

Just taking three of the most concerning findings for Surrey County Council in the tables:

Surrey came 111th in the percentage of children looked after continuously for 12 months who achieved at least level 4 in Key Stage 2 in both English and Mathematics.

Surrey came 139th out of 152 in the proportion of young people aged 19 who were looked after aged 16 who were in suitable accommodation. Only 9 councils performed worse.

And Surrey came 109th in the percentage of children looked after at 31 March with three or more placements during the preceding year.

The Liberal Democrats on Conservative run Surrey County Council are calling for urgent action to tackle the problems and and are seeking improvements in the inadequate support for Surrey's children in care.

Cllr Hazel Watson Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition said: "If we cannot ensure the children in our care have a decent roof over their head and receive an education that prepares them for later life, we are failing those children.

"The County Council must ensure that looked after children have the support that they need to reach their full academic potential. At present that support is wanting. For example in September only 71% of looked after children had a Personal Education Plan despite the County Council havng a target that all looked after children should have one.

" The government is providing extra funding called the Pupil Premium for deprived pupils and looked after children. This is a great opportunity for the County Council to work with schools to make sure that the money is used wisely. The money could be used for example to purchase laptops, books, extra tuition and school trips. This would help ensure that looked after children do not miss out on things that other children take for granted in Surrey so that they do not appear different from other children.

" As a stable home life is so critical for children as they grow up, the County Council must do everything possible to keep the number of placement changes for looked after children to a minimum. Currently there are too many looked after children in Surrey who have three or more placements within a year. This is disruptive to the lives of these children.

"The County Council is also responsible for ensuring that its children leaving care have suitable accommodation. But too often the accommodation provided for these young people is unsuitable. Clearly, the County Council needs to work more closely with Districts, Boroughs and Housing Associations to provide suitable accommodation for all young people who leave care in Surrey.

" Surrey's looked after children should be supported by the Council as if they were our own children. This is not happening for all of these children. It is time for the Leader to take strong leadership and to step up and take personal charge of ensuring Surrey's Children in Care and adopted children are not left wanting."

ENDS