MSP flags fears over 'looked after' children
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AN “unacceptably high” attainment gap affecting children who are looked after has been flagged up by a Wester Ross-based MSP.
Jean Urquhart, a Highlands and Islands MSP who previously served for many years on Highland Council, made her remarks in the wake of a report published by the Scottish Parliament’s education and culture committee, on which she sits.
Scottish Government figures show that exam results for looked after children are very low compared with other children. While 56 per cent of school leavers gained five or more qualifications, only 4.7 per cent of children looked after away from home — and just 0.5 per cent of children looked after at home — achieved the same results.
Mrs Urquhart said that while a range of policies aimed at improving educational attainment of such children had been put in place, “it is clear that the current system for supporting looked after children could be improved and that the attainment gap remains unacceptably wide”.
She said: “During the inquiry it became clear that there is a sensitive and difficult balance to be struck between supporting families at home and intervening to remove children from harmful situations.
“That is why we have agreed to hold a further, detailed inquiry into this area.”
She paid tribute to Highland Council for its recent report on the children who are looked after at home in Highland.
Added the SNP MSP: “These are some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children and deserve our interest and attention in order that we work together with health visitors, social workers, teachers and other professionals to help all of our children to reach their full potential.
