Susan Kennedy

More support for looked after children in school will only work if the government and councils invest in the people to provide that support, says the STUC.

An EIS motion warned that new responsibilities to looked after children, which they supported, were being undermined by cuts in schools

Backing the motion, UNISON's Susan Kennedy - a pupil support assistant - warned, "cuts to education support staff across Scottish authorities means there is insufficient support available".

"We used to have a social worker attached to our school network but when he moves on, he was not replaced", explained Susan.

She reminded Congress that we all have a responsibility towards looked after children. In terms of corporate parenting "local authorities, social work, education, housing and health all need the funding and resources to deliver their responsibility".