Focus on children’s trusts

The effects of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 will begin to come through gradually over the next year, unless it is repealed. The children and young people's plan in each area will be significantly influenced by the children's trust, which in turn is likely to be strongly influenced by single-issue pressure groups. One alliance of single-issue pressure groups is the disability lobby. While no one would wish to make the lives of disabled children harder, there is a danger that disproportionate attention will be given to the interests of the few rather than the many and it will be up to school representatives to ensure that a balanced and practical, as well as ethical, approach is taken in formulating recommendations to local authorities.