Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 5 July 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 July 2000. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Monday, 17 July 2000 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what arrangements exist to ensure that residential care establishments teach the National Curriculum.

Answer: Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements exist to ensure that residential care establishments teach the National Curriculum. [129770] Jacqui Smith: Although residential care establishments are able to access and use the National Curriculum if they are undertaking education within their establishments, only maintained schools are obligated to do so. The Government expects and is committed to providing mainstream education including access to the full National Curriculum for all children of school age, wherever this is suitable. The recently published joint Department for Education and Employment and Department of Health "Guidance On The Education of Children and Young People in Public Care" stipulates that: "The Government expects local authorities to set a maximum time limit of twenty school days within which they must secure an education placement for any pupil in public care. It will be a full-time place in a local mainstream school unless the circumstances of the child make full-time or local or mainstream provision unsuitable". This is supported by statutory guidance in Circular LAC(2000)13.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 354 c88W; 129770
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Children Children in care Care homes Curriculum Education Special educational needs Young people
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk