Children in care denied school places, Lincolnshire home warns

A BBC investigation found some children in care have been out of mainstream school for months or years while homes struggle to secure places; the Children's Homes Association reports many providers face difficulty finding placements and the Department for Education says a new law will extend councils' powers to include academies.

BBC reporting says some children in care are remaining out of mainstream school for months or even years because carers and providers cannot secure school places. A group of children's homes in Lincolnshire told reporters that half the children in their care were out of mainstream education in January and described individual cases of repeated rejections. Councils are legally required to give looked‑after children priority for school admissions, but the Children's Homes Association says many providers across England and Wales are struggling to get placements. The Department for Education has said a proposed law will extend councils' powers to include academies to help speed up securing places. Key findings: - Some children have been out of school for extended periods; one 16‑year‑old was reported to have been rejected by 14 schools. - A survey by the Children's Homes Association found 40 of 49 providers, representing 273 homes, reported difficulties securing school places. - Councils currently have limited powers over some schools, and academies do not always fall under the same admission powers as other schools. - The Department for Education announced plans for a law to extend councils' powers to include academies to help secure places for looked‑after children. Summary: Officials, provider groups and the children's commissioner report that prolonged absence from school is affecting some looked‑after children and creating uncertainty about their education. The government says it will change the law to give councils broader powers over academy admissions to speed up placements. The report does not give a detailed timetable for when those legal changes will take effect.