News@www.adoption-net.co.uk
This story published July 17, 2001
A question of education
The Government is conducting a major consultation into the education of children in care.
Health minister Jacqui Smith, launching the initiative, said: "We know that doing badly at school has a major impact on these children's chances later in life and we must do more to see that they get the same educational opportunities that we would expect for our own children.
"That's why I'm delighted that the social exclusion unit will be consulting widely on the issue so that we can get to the bottom of the problem and come up with recommendations that will make a real difference.
"We are determined that children in care should have the same life chance opportunities as other children. This is a central theme of the Government's Quality Protects Programme."
Baroness Ashton, minister for early years and school standards, added: "I welcome the social exclusion unit study which will help to build on the initiatives already in place to ensure that young people and children in public care are able to fulfil their potential."
More than two-thirds of children in care leave care at 16 without a single qualifications compared with just six per cent of all children. Less than one in 20 looked-after children obtain five good GCSE passes compared with nearly half of all children.
Care leavers are also ten times more likely to be excluded from school and are more likely to end up in prison, sleeping on the streets or become teenage parents.
The SEU's project will build on these existing policies. Key features of the guidance include:
The SEU consultation will take in social services departments, education authorities, schools, foster carers, young people in care, care leavers, children's charities, and anyone else with an interest in the topic.
As well as the formal consultation, the unit is carrying out six in-depth studies of particular local authority areas alongside a series of visits to projects to help identify best practice.
Barbara Roche, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, said: "By carrying out such in-depth research and consultation, the SEU's policy recommendations are based on solid evidence and involve people with direct experience of the issues."
The project is structured around four key questions:
In an initial letter the unit says: "A key strand of previous SEU reports has been about identifying 'what works' in tackling particular problems.
"We are therefore keen to receive information on any local projects or services you may know of which are effective in raising the educational achievement of children in care, including those which are organised and delivered outside the mainstream of education and care services."
"Our search for good practice will not be restricted to England. If you are aware of examples of effective approaches that are in place in other countries or other parts of the UK, it would be very helpful if you could include details in your response.
"Contributors should provide as full a reference as possible when referring to research in their contributions. Please do not assume that we already know about all relevant pieces of work.
"In the case of good practice examples, we would appreciate the address and telephone number of a project and a contact name if possible."
The consultation document is available on Social Exclusion Unit website. Responses can be e-mailed to: jamil.mohamed@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk and should be received by November 8.
The unit is hoping to involve as many individuals and organisations as possible. The final report will be published in 2002.
Click here for some of the questions being asked in the consultation.
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