The Education of Children and Young People in State Care

Young people who leave care with few or no educational qualifications are at very high risk of social exclusion in adulthood. At present a child in public care is five times less likely to go to university than others. This book documents the lack of education in the care provided for children separated from their birth families, and the disastrous implications that this has for their life chances. The book argues the need for major changes in the care and education systems if young people in state care are to have the opportunity to overcome early adversity and do as well as their home-based peers. This book was originally published as a special issue of the European Journal of Social Work.

Young people who leave care with few or no educational qualifications are at very high risk of social exclusion in adulthood. Yet in the past their education has attracted little attention from researchers or professionals. Studies by the editors and contributors to this volume show that the educational standards attained by young people in care fall progressively behind those of their peers living with their own families. This research-based book looks at the educational experiences of children and youths in nine different European countries and Canada. It identifies the obstacles that prevent them from realising their aspirations and discusses ways of improving their opportunities.

How can countries with different traditions, welfare regimes and administrative systems learn from each other? What needs to be done at national, local and individual levels to give children in care equal chances with those living with their families? At present a child in public care is five times less likely to go to university than others. How can teachers, social workers and carers better support their educational attainment, and enable more of them to succeed and progress to tertiary education? This book was originally published as a special issue of the European Journal of Social Work.