Looked after children must get 'best opportunity'

Gemma Anslow, ePolitix

Parliamentary researcher Gemma Anslow reports from the parliamentary group for Care Leavers and Looked After Children.

Former member of the children, schools and families committee, Edward Timpson (Con, Crewe and Nantwich) chaired the first meeting of the parliamentary group for Care Leavers and Looked After Children of the new Parliament.

In its only meeting before the summer recess, the group gathered to discuss strategy for the coming months. Deciding its "message to government", Timpson underlined that the sole purpose of the group must be to make sure that children have the "best opportunity, whatever their start in life".

In a wide ranging debate, former family lawyer Timpson said that he wanted to focus on mental health provision for those in care and how the pupil premium may affect looked after children.

He also said that the group must focus on the promotion and retention of social workers. Vice chairman the Earl of Listowel agreed, proposing that the group should study the very successful Teach First strategy, with the aim of expanding it to social work, youth work and residential social care.

Another major area of potential discussion was the educational attainment of children who have been looked after. The current target for such children to gain just one GSCE was described as "risible". The group agreed to look at areas of good practice in the community such as the Horizons Centre in Ealing, where the number of care leavers who have progressed to university has risen dramatically.

The overwhelming message from the attendees was that the group must be "proactive rather than reactive", spreading a positive message across government, not simply debating the failures of the care system. It was decided that one of the major aims will be to provide the government with an evidence base of good examples of best practice within the sector.

The Crewe MP closed the meeting by promising that children and young families minister Tim Loughton would be answering questions at the next meeting.

Timpson also pledged to get more MPs to visit residential and foster homes within their constituencies, "that is a much more powerful message than receiving a booklet".

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