Tim Loughton responds to Guardian article on children in care
Tim Loughton responds to Guardian story about children in care and the new admissions code.
Reforming policies to help children in care is top of our agenda and this government is clear that all state schools must give these vulnerable children highest priority in their admissions.
You say that this will be undermined when the new admissions code is published. This is quite wrong.
Academies and free schools, like all schools, must give highest priority to looked-after children. It is our responsibility to close the gulf in achievement and tackle inequality so as to make sure children in care get the extra support they need to succeed. That’s why we are including looked after children in our pupil premium grant and why they will also benefit from an extra year of free early education.
Tim Loughton MP Minister for Children and Young People