Kids being ‘pinged’ round the care system
THOUSANDS of “pinball kids” are being shunted around the care system, a report warns.
Only one in four in care experienced no changes in 2016/17, according to the study.
Almost 2,400 switched home, school and social worker.
Around 9,000 went through two of these changes. Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, said far too many were forced into “living unstable lives”.
She added: “Every day I hear from “pinball kids” who are being pinged around the care system when all they really want is to be settled and to get on with normal life. These children need stability.” She called on councils to “make reducing instability a priority” and urged Ofsted to assess the “stability” of children in care.
Her report warns youngsters who experience instability are more at risk of being excluded from school, gang membership and exploitation.