Children in care are being failed by the system and missing out on education, an MHK has claimed.

David Ashford (Douglas North) said families of children taken into care had complained the youngsters were placed in homes that had made no attempt to ensure the child went to school.

’They have simply been left to do what they wish in the home through the day time,’ he said.

Mr Ashford raised the issue with Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft in Tynwald last week.

’Is she aware of those complaints and will she ensure that they are looked into and make sure that people at least try and get the children to school?’ he asked.

’Would she accept that the system, as it is now, is failing our young people?’

Mrs Beecroft said it was not an issue she had been made aware of. ’I will certainly be looking into it when I go back into the department and I shall ask for it to be looked at thoroughly,’ she pledged.

Mrs Beecroft said the Department of Education and Children was responsible for managing absences from school and ensuring parents fulfilled their duty to ensure their children received a suitable education.

Last month, Attorney General John Quinn said that parental responsibility would lie with the Department of Health and Social Care in cases where the child was in care.

Mrs Beecroft said the concept of a corporate parent was not a statutory requirement in the Isle of Man, but was worked to as best practice.

’The Corporate Parenting Group, chaired by the Children’s Champion (Daphne Caine), is made up of relevant departments and young people who represent the looked-after children,’ she added.

All children had a personal education plan reviewed regularly.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen said attendance figures for all looked-after children were reviewed monthly. A working party had been set up to see if there was a ’better way’ of preparing the education plans, he added.