so why do children in care get priority over children who live with a parent?

[pukkapatch]

i dot understand that. why should they be entitled to priority over chilcren with parents? whats the deal there?

Because they are the group most likely to leave school having under achieved.

sorry, still dont get it., they get priority for the best places, and still leave having underacheived?

because they have the odds so stacked against them

Maybe it would be fair to surmise that given they are in care they have already had to deal with a lot in their short lives and are already at a disadvantage.

It would seem reasonable to me that where certain factors suggest a particular school is most appropriate, ie childhood friends to provide some continuity, availability of foster carers etc that a child already at a disadvantage be given priority.

I do accept however that this is a "one size fits all approach". But really, it is such a small number of children this affects...is it really something you feel strongly is wrong?

I don't think it necessarily is the case that they are prioritised at the best academic schools. I would hope they were prioritised at schools with for example a strong support capability - yes, this may also be an academically good school. Without wishing to offend you do sound a little churlish.

they have had a pretty crap life so why not? Disabled kids get first priority at schools too.
But its for local schools, regardless of how good they are, not just any school in the city. Local to where they live. Don't see the problem with it.

Often foster carers look after children of a variety of ages from more than one family. If they didn't get priority at the schools they collected from it might be that they have to collect from 3 or possibly 4 schools all at the same time.

So a foster carer tends to have one school that her/his childrn attend and therefore they get priority at that school

My understanding is that children in care are given priority so that they can get get places very locally - not necessarily at the 'best' schools. Don't see the problem myself, it's not as though Mum and Dad can transport them by 4X4 to the school of their choice is it?

Agree with zippi. They have disruption, confusion, a poor start in life. The continuity of school and friends may just make all the difference. God, My parents were together but life at home was frequently sh*t and school was my refuge

We are not talking about hordes of children. Is it one particular case that is bothering you?

seems an odd question

not every 'kid in care' gets priority! i had to travel 30miles to go to school, when i went anyway.

why have you such a quarm (sp) with it?

if a child is in care (foster care, or otherwise) the Local Authority is responsible for their education (in the absence of a parent) therefore the LA gives them priority when allocating school places.

Because it's about time the poor little brats got priority in SOMETHING - most of the rest of their lives must have been pretty crap if they are in care at the age of 4.

And they need all the help they can get from those of us lucky enough to have better circumstances - there but for the grace of [insert preferred supreme being/philosophy of life] go our children.

QUOTE-
sorry, still dont get it., they get priority for the best places, and still leave having underacheived?

again this doesnt apply for every child in care and tbh its rather offending you saying that. children in care are sterotyped as being bad and not worthy of 'normal things' ie a local school place. some children are there through no fault of their own so why should they lose out?

i also believe that when a child is in care and the parents are still involved i.e trying to get the child back, awaiting assessment etc etc then they do have a say over the school should go to.

so if they are catholic and want their child to go to a catholic school even if the child is not in the catchment then they are given priority.

i can see that this is something that could be abused but i have no problem with them getting priority

Yes it's truelly awful that a child in care with no parents, having come from god knows what situation should be made any sort of priority.

Indigomoon - Catholic schools don't really have a "catchment" on the same way that other schools have.

pukka they don't get priority for the best places, they get priority to the local school. If the LA think a particular school is best for them, then yeah, they should get priority. Why would this even bother you?

Who would you rather get priority to an oversubscribed local school?

because they do.....AND SHOULD!!!!

Foster care children have to be given priority somewhere in life, and this is one of the best ways. especially as it gives them some decent structure in their lives finally.

there is another S word I am looking for and it is alluding me, but they just need routine etc......same school is part of that.

I am amazed you have to ask!

psycho - stability?

Stability?!

Oh what a caring, inclusive, socially responsible society we live in.

I'm not clear exactly what kind of "priority" you are referring to. But its a common problem that children in foster care get moved from place to place and with it can have very disrupted schooling and this can add to an already difficult and anxious time for the child. Thankfully LA's now recognise this and try to counter it.

Pukka, if you can afford it, send your kids to private school then you won't have to mix with them.