EMPTY PROMISES FOR CHILDREN IN CARE

Kent is at last catching up with the rest of the country by finally making its pledge to looked-after children in the county. But this is too little too late.

In advance of the pledge being presented to the Conservative Administration on Monday, Christine Angell, a KCC Shadow Cabinet Member for Children Families and Education, said: “I am very concerned that there is no mention of the financial support given by the Labour Government to the local authority of £500 per year per child, should children in care need help in their schooling.

“Instead it would appear Kent has decided how that money will be spent, on computers – for some – and digital cameras for sixty-five children a year.

 “Likewise, low expectations for children in care are reflected in the fact there is no mention of the £2,000 available should a looked-after child choose to go to University.

“I am deeply saddened that Kent doesn’t want to make more imaginative use of the opportunity to spend some of the £305 million made available by Government over the next three years.

“We are responsible for looked-after children.

All you have to do is think how would I feel if this were my child?”

For more information, please contact Christine Angell on christine.angell@kent.gov.uk