Children’s Services

With 700,000 children living in poverty in London, over 15,000 children in care each year, over 1,500 unaccompanied asylum seeking children, and having seen a 40 per cent rise in children on protection plans since 2010 – adequate funding for children’s services is the number one priority for London Councils in the Spending Review. These are some of the most vulnerable people in society and it is the duty of local government and the government to ensure there is enough funding to support them.

We ask that the government uses the Spending Review to:

  • meet the annual funding shortfall of over £100 million by providing sufficient funding for children’s social care; and
  • ensure the High Needs block of the Dedicated Schools Grant has an increase in funding that reflects the increase in children on plans - to avoid the escalation of a funding crisis for children with Special Educautional Needs and Disabilities.

The future of London’s, and the country’s success, is in the hands of the next generation. Without proper investment in these vital services, the future success of the capital will be in jeopardy.

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