There has been concern for some time about the plight of children in local authority care. Separated from their families because of neglect or emotional, physical or sexual abuse, only a tiny few have been lucky enough to find the security of an adopted family. The rest - and there are nearly 60,000 children in the care of local authorities at any one time in England, with more than 10,000 under four years old - are placed in temporary foster homes or residential homes and schools.
Even those lucky enough to be adopted eventually can be subject to many changes in their young lives. While the child is in temporary foster care, it will take, on average, 21 months to find an adoptive family and, in the meantime, a child may experience several foster homes. Placements can break down for various reasons, but often because of the child's disturbed behaviour caused by his or her previous trauma. All these changes only lead to greater insecurity for the child.
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