Qualified foster carers needed, claims child care specialist

Local authorities should recruit better educated and qualified
foster carers if they want looked-after children to do well at
school.

Leading child care academic Sonia Jackson told a symposium that
foster carers with a low level of educational attainment were
likely to place a low value on education, which contributed to the
poor school performance of looked after children.

“They choose to become foster carers because they do not have
many other options,” she said.

The symposium at Dartington Hall, Devon, was organised by
Research in Practice, a project set up to disseminate research
evidence on child care to social work practitioners.

Professor Jackson, who until recently chaired Children in Wales,
called for recognition of the importance of continuity for
children’s educational success, and for more support for children
at key points in their school career.

More information at www.rip.org.uk