Why do we focus on the educational needs of children looked after?
Many children in care enjoy school and almost all think it is important. But as a group they have poor experiences of education and very low educational attainment.
Some care-leavers go on to be very successful in later life. However for many, poor experiences of education can contribute to later social exclusion.
National research on children in care has produced the following information:
- At any one time around 60,000 children are in care. Around 40% are aged 10 or under
- 80% of children enter care because of abuse or neglect or family reasons
- Less than 10% enter care because of their own behaviour
- No more than 10% of children in care achieve five or more A* - C grades at GCSE, compared to half of all young people
- Children in care generally have poor results in Key Stage tests at 7, 11 and 14
- Just 1% go to university
Five big issues have been identified as the reasons why children in care underachieve in education:
- Too many young people's lives are characterised by instability
- Young people in care spend too much time out of their school or other place of learning
- Children do not have sufficient help with their education if they get behind
- In the past carers have not been expected, or equipped to provide sufficient support and encouragement at home for learning and development
- Children in care need more help with their emotional, mental or physical health and wellbeing
The government has taken these issues and created a range of performance measures they expect councils to achieve. Comprehensively addressing these issues has been at the heart of the services South Gloucestershire Council's Department for Children and Young People and its partner agencies provide.