HEAD teachers in Thanet have called for a halt to London boroughs sending fostered children to the isle.

Thanet Heads Group, which covers eight isle schools, has written to Kent County Council saying that looked-after children cause "considerable problems" and "enough is enough".

Head of Dane Court Grammar School Paul Luxmoore said there is an industry of fostering in Thanet. He said: "Kent County Council is advertising for foster carers while at the same time trying to persuade London boroughs to stop sending their children here.

"I understand the need for authorities to find alternative places for them to live and be educated but Thanet is already a very, very deprived area and we question whether it is the place to put vulnerable children of this kind.

"We are trying to stick up for these looked-after children."

Thanet has 201 fostered children from inside Kent and 108 from outside the county.

KCC agrees the number of fostered children being placed in Thanet puts pressure on services such as schools. It is putting pressure on London authorities about where to place the children.

Hartsdown Technology College principal and group chairman Andy Somers believes the law needs to change to stop children from outside an area being placed in its care.

One mother from Ramsgate, who asked not to be named because she is adopting a child, said: "Foster carers do an amazing job. These kids can't be looked after by their parents but they do come with a lot of problems.

"A family can get £800 for a regular kid but if there are problems it can be more.

"I know social workers in London whose policy is to send the children here because there are bigger houses which can take more children."

Marlowe Academy principal Ian Johnson, who is also a member of the Thanet Heads Group, said he would have objected to the proposal if he had been at the meeting. He said: "Over 40 of my students are in care and 20 of those are from outside the area.

"I don't support my fellow head teachers because these students deserve our support and they are here.

"There are a significant number of local families who look after these kids, it's their job."

KCC cabinet member for children, families and education Sarah Hohler said: "We share the concerns of the head teachers regarding the high number of looked after children in Thanet.

"Kent and particularly Thanet are attractive to other authorities because of the standard of children's services on offer.

"This puts pressure on services such as schools. We are hoping to make rapid progress with the London boroughs to resolve this."