Personal stories from the Scottish Government

"Politicians bring forward lots of excellent ideas based on their experience and knowledge as constituency MSPs. Practitioners also come up with ideas for good practice which can be harnessed and spread. As far as I am concerned we should be aspiring to be the best in the world.

"Our aim for looked after children is that they should achieve the same level of outcomes as their peers who are not looked after. We want them to fulfil their potential. There should be no difference. In the past it’s fair to say there have been targets for looked after children which were significantly lower than other young people.

"We know what the ingredients are for young people to do well - living in a stable and loving home. That won’t always be a family situation. Some young people may do better in a residential setting. One of the challenges is to have better planning to enable children to get the right placement for them and to reduce the uncertainty and flux.

"Also important is to meet their health and education needs, wherever they are, and to sustain that commitment when other things change. This is the key thing: to put the needs of children first.”

Olivia McLeod, Depute Director, Care and Justice, Scottish Government

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