News

Cllr Roy Perry, Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, responds to a joint report on neglect of older children from the inspectorates Ofsted, HMI Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and HMI Probation.

"We need to develop a system that says yes, rather than no, to children when they ask for help."

More than 180 children are placed on child protection plans every day to keep them safe from harm.

“Since 2010 councils have created more than 800,000 extra new places, and more than 85 per cent of these were in schools rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding."

Cllr Linda Thomas, Vice Chair of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to quarterly figures on teenage pregnancies in England and Wales, published today by the Office for National Statistics.

"Councils are committed to ensuring that parents have access to high quality, flexible childcare so that all children get the best start in life."

“Over recent years councils have created an extra 600,000 new places. This is a demonstrable record that they are doing everything they can to rise to the challenge of ensuring no child goes without a place."

"Councils need the powers and appropriate funding to enter homes or other premises to check a child’s schooling, and make sure they aren’t being taught in unsuitable or dangerous environments."

"Councils are clear that the Government should provide additional and ongoing funding to meet this need, otherwise councils may not be able to meet their statutory duties and children with high needs or disabilities could miss out on a mainstream education."

"If we’re to meet the demand for school places then councils should be given back the powers to open new maintained schools and existing academy schools should expand where required."