A top expert in the education of children in care at Cambridgeshire County Council has been asked to share her expertise with the Government.

Tracey Bend has been seconded to the Department of Education and Employment for a few days a week from her job as team manager for ESLAC - education support for looked after children.

She is working for a year as part of a team of five to implement the Government's guidance The Education of Children in Public Care, which was published earlier this year.

They will be working to support local authorities across the country in their programme of improving the educational attainment of children in care.

Cambridgeshire County Council has already established several of the recommendations in the guidance, including, making sure that all schools designate a specific teacher for looked-after children, and assessing the training needs of these teachers. All children in care also have a 'Personal Education Plan'.

Tracey said: "I am delighted to be working with the DfEE to help implement this guidance. In Cambridgeshire we are ahead of the game in many respects, so I will be using my experience to help other authorities."