The government will crack down on the use of unregulated accommodation for children in care – which includes hostels, hotels and caravans – amid growing concerns that under-16s are being left in poor provision at risk of exploitation.
Placing children under the age of 16 into unregulated accommodation, which do not deliver care, will become illegal under plans announced by education secretary Gavin Williamson.
The move follows warnings that the number of children being placed in inappropriate, and sometimes unsafe, accommodation is on the rise amid a shortage of provision and funding cuts.
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