Nursery World - Schools 'opt out of inter-agency work'

The Children Bill could be doomed to failure if schools are not given a duty to protect young people, a coalition of children's sector organisations warned last week. The 15-strong inter-agency grouping, including the Local Government Association (LGA), Barnardo's, the NSPCC and the National Children's Bureau (NCB), is concerned that the Bill does not require schools to participate in the integration of services that could improve the lives of children and young people.

The 15-strong inter-agency grouping, including the Local Government Association (LGA), Barnardo's, the NSPCC and the National Children's Bureau (NCB), is concerned that the Bill does not require schools to participate in the integration of services that could improve the lives of children and young people.

It argues that this loophole will give schools the chance to opt out of working co-operatively with other agencies, and says schools should have a duty to identify priorities and resources to ensure they provide for children facing additional challenges.

The warning follows an attempt by the group in May to table an amendment to the Bill stating that schools should have a legal duty to co-operate with other agencies. However, this was rejected, and the Bill is now awaiting its provisional second reading in the House of Commons next week, having completed its passage through the House of Lords.

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