Last week, the board confirmed that the number of beds it commissions in local authority secure children's homes will drop from 310 to 235 over the next two years.
As revealed in Children Now (News, 18-24 February), it declined to commission beds in six homes after a bidding process. Two homes - Brunel in Derbyshire and Stamford House in London - will close this summer. Briars Hey in Lancashire has closed and more could follow.
But a spokeswoman said the move would mean additional, more suitable accommodation for young offenders, including secure training units.
A third secure training unit will open in Milton Keynes this summer, bringing the total number of beds to 274. "The units are purpose-built with very good education facilities - effectively like a small school," she said.
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