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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources the Government are planning to set aside to provide training for foster carers and residential care staff about the education system and on ensuring that children in their care are in appropriate education. [100721] Mr. Hutton: We are providing £2 million funding through a sub-programme in the training support programme (TSP) in 1999-2000 for training foster carers, with emphasis being put on the attainment of level 3 of the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Award "Caring for Children and Young People". This award contains a unit of competence entitled "Promote and Maximise Educational Opportunities and Achievements for Individual Children and Young People" which describes best practice in supporting children and young people to sustain and/or access educational or learning opportunities, or return to education. It is intended to continue this sub-programme for the next two years at the same rate. The TSP also includes a £2.5 million sub-programme for residential child care staff to attain their level 3 NVQ in the "Caring for Children and Young People" award. This programme will also continue for the following two years but will rise to £3 million next year.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

340 c625W; 100721

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Children in care Care homes Carers Education Training Young people

Contains statistics

Yes