Education important to children in care

Children in care value the importance of a good education and
believe it will improve their career prospects, according to a new
report, writes Clare Jerrom.

Ninety seven per cent cited education as important in a
questionnaire from the government’s social exclusion unit and The
Who Cares? Trust, which is part of the SEU’s project on the
educational attainment of children in care.

Minister for social exclusion Barbara Roche, said: “It is
encouraging to see that so many children in care recognise the
importance of a good education, but more needs to be done to ensure
they can fulfil their potential and don’t go on to face
homelessness or a cycle of re-offending.”

Three quarters of children in care had a clear idea of what they
wanted to do in the future, the questionnaire found, and well over
two thirds had access to the books and computers they needed to
complete their homework.

However, 16 per cent of children felt they were treated worse at
school because they were in care, 15 per cent were forced to move
schools more than four times because of changes in care placements
and two thirds were bullied.

The SEU launched its project on the educational attainment of
children in care in March, and will publish its final report
towards the end of the year.