Care homes once owned by Action for Children, Barnardo’s and Henshaws Society for Blind People are among those being investigated in relation to Jimmy Savile child abuse claims.

Education secretary Michael Gove announced yesterday that the Department for Education has received information which relates to child abuse cases in 21 children’s homes and schools dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

A children’s home in Redbridge, the name of which remains unknown, is being investigated by Barnardo’s.

A spokesperson from the charity said: “Barnardo's takes extremely seriously any allegation of historical abuse from adults who were once children in our care.

“We will be working closely with the Department for Education to look into the allegations of which they have recently made us aware.”

The National Children’s Home in Penhurst, Oxfordshire is also under investigation. Penhurst School was once owned by Action for Children, but is no longer in operation.

The charity changed its name from NCH to Action for Children in 2008.  

A spokesperson for Action for Children said: “We are committed to keeping children safe and have robust measures in place to do so.

“We are co-operating fully with the Department for Education and will conduct a full investigation into Savile’s possible visits to our former school in the 1970s.”

The Henshaw School for the Blind in Leeds is also being investigated as part of historical child abuse claims. The school, which no longer exists, was run by Henshaws Society for Blind People.

A spokeswoman from Henshaws said: “It is right that steps are taken to explore these allegations, to find out what happened and why, and we will be providing what evidence we can to the enquiry and will be putting as much effort as it takes into providing the enquiry with the information they need.

“Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime and we are committed to ensuring that all those who are vulnerable are protected.”

Gove said that the appropriate organisation or local authority will be responsible for looking into the claims, so the charities will be responsible for conducting their own investigations.

The information was uncovered as part of the document review process undertaken by the Metropolitan Police Service on behalf of the Department of Health.

The allegations of abuse are connected to Operation Yewtree, a criminal investigation which was launched in October 2012.

In a statement Gove said that to ensure consistency with the NHS Savile investigations, he will be replicating the arrangements adopted by the Department of Health to quality-assure the work.

He said: “I have appointed Lucy Scott-Moncrieff to provide independent oversight and quality assurance of the process, undertaking a similar role to that of Kate Lampard in the NHS trust investigations.

“I have asked Lucy Scott-Moncrieff to ensure that investigating organisations take all practicable steps to establish what happened and why at the time of the incidents, and any lessons there might be to inform current safeguarding practice in our schools and children’s homes.”