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“Mental health needs to be at heart of a holistic approach to overall health and wellbeing, which includes access to parks and green spaces, meeting housing needs and providing learning and training opportunities.”

“Every child deserves a safe and happy childhood in which they are loved and supported to reach their full potential"

“The Government needs to act fast and work with councils if they are to boost the number of apprenticeships and drive local economic growth."

“Converting to an academy is not always the best solution for a struggling school.

Councils face an £8 billion funding gap by 2025, while an additional £1.6 billion is required in high needs funding by 2021. It is essential that Government uses the forthcoming Spending Review to address these shortfalls, and to ensure schools are adequately funded to support all children to achieve their ambitions.”

Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People Boards, Cllr Judith Blake, responds to a report by the Education Policy Institute on unexplained exits of pupils.

“Good quality early education can make an enormous difference to children’s lives, with around 40 per cent of the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers emerging by age 5."

“Good attendance at school plays a vital role in children’s development, however councils lack the powers to ensure children who are missing school don’t slip through the net, such as directing academies to accept pupils."

“We urgently need to reform our children’s social care and SEND systems, including transformational investment in the services that give all children the best start in life.”

“Councils want to ensure that every child gets the very best education and schooling in life; and are best placed to understand the needs of their community and be able to provide for them."