On the one hand, it is encouraging to see that local authorities appear to be heeding the advice of children's minister Edward Timpson to give looked-after young people making the transition to independence more financial support. The 27 per cent rise in the amount paid out in setting-up home grants suggests that councils have switched on to why it is important to give care leavers substantial help to get on their feet.
This positive step makes the fact that spending on support for care leavers going to university dropped over the past year all the more bemusing. At a time when so much emphasis from the government and policy makers has been on increasing the startlingly poor numbers going into higher education, this is particularly disappointing.
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