‘Pinball kids’ in care at greater risk of abuse

THOUSANDS of children are being shunted around the care system and put at risk of exploitation and abuse, a report warns.

Just one in four children in care experienced no change to their home, school or social workers in 2016-17, according to a study by the Children’s Commissioner, who warned that far too many youngsters were at risk of “falling through the gaps”.

In total, almost 2,400 children switched home, school and social worker during those 12 months. A further 9,000 experienced two of these changes. And more than 350 youngsters in care dealt with multiple home changes, a midyear school move and different social workers.

Anne Longfield, the Children’s Commissioner for England, said: “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, yet far too many are living unstable lives, in particular children entering care in their early teens.

“This puts them at greater risk of falling through the gaps in the schools system and opens them up to exploitation by gangs or to abuse.”