Children’s Commissioner for England concerned for ‘pinball kids’ in care
Thousands of children and young people in England are ‘pinging’ around the care system, changing homes, schools, and social workers multiple times in the course of a year.
That’s according to Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, who today (Friday 1 June 2018) published the second annual Stability Index, a report that aims to encourage councils to be more accountable when it comes to children and young people’s experience of care.
The Stability Index 2018 compiles data gathered from local authorities across England to build a picture of how often children and young people’s circumstances change, and the impact that kind of disruption can have.
The report found:
- Almost 2,400 children changed home, school and social worker over the last 12 months.
- Across two years, over 3,000 children had to move home four or more times.
- Over three years, around 2,500 children moved home five or more times.
- Around 4,300 children in care moved school in the middle of the year.
- Around 400 children who moved school ended up missing a whole term as a result
The Commissioner is concerned that too much disruption leads to difficulties in succeeding in school and an increase in vulnerability. The research also highlighted that older children and teenagers are most at risk of instability, and often benefited from extra support to avoid the breakdown of placements.
Commenting on the findings, the Children’s Commissioner for England said:
“…children need stability, yet far too many are living unstable lives, in particular children entering care in their early teens. This puts them at greater risk of falling through the gaps in the education system and opens them up to exploitation by gangs or to abuse.
“The care system does work for many thousands of children but our ambition should be for every child growing up in care to have the same chances to live happy, healthy and rewarding lives as any other child.”