Rachael Wardell OBE, President of ADCS, said:

“We need an open and honest discussion about institutionalised racism and the resulting disproportionality and over-representation of children from global majority communities this creates in some of our services.

“More important than naming it, is ensuring there is action and that this leads to meaningful change.

“A number of recent reports rightly challenge system leaders, as well as frontline practitioners, from all organisations working with children and families from global majority backgrounds.

“Leaders across public services have an important role in addressing discrimination and bias via support for anti-racist practice in our organisations. Government must also learn these same lessons and play its part in addressing the systemic issues that allow racism and disproportionality to percolate through our system and society.”

Ends