Catalogue description Board of Education: Poor Law Children, Local Education Authority Files

In county and county borough order for England and Wales.

The functions of the Poor Law Authorities were transferred as from April 1, 1930 under the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1929 (Section I: Part I) to the council of the county or county borough.

The council of the county or county borough was called upon to submit an administrative scheme which would, wherever possible, provide "assistance" by virtue of the appropriate Act and not by way of poor relief. "Assistance" for the purpose of subsection 5 of Part I of the Act included, inter alia, the education of children and local education authorities became responsible for poor law children in certified schools or boarded out with foster parents and children being educated in hospitals and convalescent homes.

In many areas poor law children already attended public elementary schools; where poor law schools existed they were formally converted into public elementary schools and educational provision was related to the Education Act, 1921.

The London County Council however, continued to administer residential schools and homes established by the Boards of Guardians, under the provisions of the Poor Law Act of 1930.