However, the current consultation on guidance for local authorities - which ends on 9 June - offers grounds for optimism.
A major step forward is the emphasis on corporate parenting, including education, for "all your children", rather than sidelining looked-after children as a special needs group. It is also heartening to see services being encouraged towards positive views and practice rather than the apologetic attitude that has surrounded the issue in the past.
Making this positive vision a reality, however, will involve engaging all those who work with looked-after children. There is still no specific duty on schools to match the expectations placed on local authorities - but it is vital that education and social care services work in unison to meet children's needs. We need to take a child-centred perspective and increase understanding, awareness and skills in order to challenge prejudices and preconceptions.
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