Mr. Gabriel McCabe:

With regard to highest priority, I can give members a copy of the relevant English legislation. It is very unequivocal in defining the meaning of "highest priority". I have supplied this information to the committee in digital form.

If provision is made for children in care, I ask that the wording be chosen carefully. If "local school" is referred to, it should be noted it may not be the most appropriate school for the child. I ask the committee to take that into account.

Let me outline a little case history in regard to the policies. We live approximately 200 yards from our local secondary school, which is built on land that was acquired under compulsory order from my wife's family, who have lived in the area since the 1800s. My daughter, who is present, and her brother - the first two - were excluded; they did not qualify. My 12 year old son is due to enter secondary school in 12 months, and he is well down the list of names for admission to the school. Bearing in mind the approach of extending the waiting lists so schools can work off waiting lists, one should note that in our particular area it will be 12 years before that aspect of discrimination will cease. Every September, my son, who has special needs, goes back to school and meets 30 familiar faces and one unfamiliar one, a new teacher. It is at least mid-October before he can settle in and begin to function well within the classroom. If he is faced with 30 new faces and ten new teaching faces, he will be absolutely devastated. He relies on the support of his peers who can manage him and, more important, his peers' parents, who are a great support in managing his behaviour and needs and ensuring he is well integrated socially in the community. He will be excluded if there is no provision for him in this regard.

Clearly, I am very much in favour of the committee considering a far more comprehensive education policy for children in care. On placement, the children are well behind their peers educationally and there is a large gap to be made up. They then face the barriers of exclusion and social isolation, including the effects of the trauma that resulted in their being brought into care in the first instance. To overcome all those barriers is a huge challenge for them. I ask the members to look at the children's particular needs in a broader sense. I thank all the members for listening to me.