Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of being moved far from their communities and support networks during their GCSE and A-Level years on children in care.

The department is committed to ensuring that looked-after children are supported to succeed in education and achieve positive outcomes.

We recognise the critical importance of continuity and stability throughout a looked-after child’s life, and particularly in respect of their education. Under the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review guidance and regulations, the child’s social worker should do everything possible to minimise disruption to their education. School changes should be minimised, and any transitions well-planned and supported. Where a change to a child’s educational arrangements is unavoidable, their Personal Education Plan should set out arrangements to minimise disruption to education, especially during exams and other critical periods in their education.

The government is introducing measures, including through the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, to rebalance the placement market, improve regulation and commissioning of placements, and bring greater visibility to the prices local authorities are paying. This includes a focus on addressing the barriers that prevent homes from being established where they are needed.

Through the government’s Plan for Change, we are also investing £2 billion over this Parliament to give more children a safe, loving home, including expanding the children’s home estate, delivering more foster care placements and helping keep families together by providing targeted support before problems escalate.

These measures will mean more placements are available for children who need them, so they do not have to move at critical periods where it is not in their interests. They will also ensure that, where it is in a child's best interests, they can be placed closer to home and school.