Cllr Anntoinette Bramble responds to the publication of children’s social care data in England for 2017/18 by Ofsted, which shows the proportion of council children’s services rated good or outstanding has increased.
Responding to the publication of children’s social care data in England for 2017/18 by Ofsted, which shows the proportion of council children’s services rated good or outstanding has increased, Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said:
“Protecting children and helping them to get the very best in life is one of the most important things that councils do and it is positive that the proportion of children’s services departments rated good or outstanding has increased.
“Despite this many are being pushed to the brink by unprecedented demand and increasing financial pressures, with an average of more than 270 children taken into care or placed on a child protection plan every single day to keep them safe from harm.
“Councils have pulled out all the stops to protect children’s budgets but are now being forced to cut funding for vital services such as early intervention support, leaving some children having to reach crisis point before they get help.
“The funding the LGA has received from government to improve children’s services and deliver a programme of sector-led support to councils will provide a number of benefits such as sharing good practice and expertise.
“But this alone will not plug the funding gap facing children’s services, which will reach £3 billion by 2025. If government is serious about protecting and support children, they need to provide the funding needed.”