NEW recommendations to improve the academic achievement of vulnerable children in Devon are being welcomed by the county council's schools' chief.

A special all-party task group has examined the under-performance of children in care and other vulnerable youngsters and come up with a series of proposals.

Devon County Council's Cabinet Member for Schools, James McInnes, welcomed the report and revealed that work was already under way on a number of the recommendations.

He said: “This is an exceptionally helpful report and we were already implementing a number of the recommendations.

“In the past we have perhaps concentrated too much on the overall data. I want us to concentrate much more on the individual and how we can help them to achieve their potential.

“That means ensuring schools are able to use the extra Pupil Premium money they get for vulnerable children to put in place individually-tailored Personal Education Plans that have been formulated with the young person, their foster family, other carers, social services and the school itself.”

The educational outcomes of the most vulnerable young people takes centre stage as a scrutiny report is published this week at Devon County Council.

A review, carried out by a special task group of the People's Scrutiny Committee, examines the poor current outcomes for disadvantaged children overall in Devon, and the work that is being undertaken to address this issue.

Councillor Alan Connett, Chairman of the Task Group, said: “Every child in care has enough to deal with, without the prospect of not achieving five good GCSEs with which to see them start out in adult life.

"This review hopefully provides an illuminating insight to the world of education, aspiration and achievement not only for our Children in Care but also all those who receive free school meals and for which the Government pays a 'Pupil Premium' to help foster their learning and educational experience.

“I very much hope we have learned some great lessons and will see in fairly short order the improvement in results and attainment not only for Children in Care but also all the children who should be fully benefitting from the Pupil Premium.

"Devon must continue to challenge for improvement to ensure children in Devon, get the best, aspire for their best and achieve the best they are capable of.”