Care-experienced children struggling to access right to education

Too many Care Experienced children and young people are not getting the support they need to thrive in education, according to a new report.

Charity Who Cares? Scotland has produced a report for the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland to look at the barriers Care Experienced children face in education, and what needs to change.

The publication – “Exclusion labelled as Support”: Care Experienced children in Scotland’s education system – follows Commissioner Nicola Killean’s wide-ranging report into education in March, in which she warned that the whole system needs overhauled to work for all children. She made a series of recommendations to the Scottish Government and education authorities.

Ms Killean commissioned Who Cares? Scotland to look specifically at Care Experienced children – those who are or have been in care such as children’s homes, foster care, or who are looked after by relatives or at home with social work involvement – in education as there has been a gap in evidence for this group whose rights are more at risk.  

Evidence for this report was drawn from Who Cares? Scotland’s database of issues raised by children and young people seeking advocacy. The evidence – from various sources – included testimony from 200 young members of Who Cares? Scotland at participation events, and through small bespoke group sessions, and 1:1s with members.

The report reveals education is one of the top three issues for young people requesting advocacy from Who Cares? Scotland. Within education, the most common subject raised is ‘support in school’. The report covers topics raised by young people including feelings of stigma and prejudice, mental health and emotional support, formal and informal exclusions, impact of care transitions, academic support, and additional support for learning.

Despite the Scottish Government’s pledge to keep The Promise – a commitment made after the Independent Care Review that Scotland would be the best place for Care Experienced children to grow up loved, safe, and respected – the new report by Who Cares? Scotland shows:

• Care Experienced children and young people are over-represented in rates of exclusions and are often subject to part-time timetables limiting their access to education 
• support services for Care Experienced young people in education are not consistently available or meeting their needs, and  
• the right to independent advocacy can help keep The Promise. 

Commissioner Nicola Killean said: “The report by Who Cares? Scotland reinforces findings from my recent report that too many children are being let down by the current education system. Every child has a right to an education that develops their personality, talents, and abilities to their full potential. But we know this isn’t happening for lots of children who have care experience. It is important that we actively seek to include the views of children whose rights are most at risk as their voices can often be lost.

“This report shows that despite some examples of good practice, Care Experienced children and young people’s right to education is often not being met. They are more often excluded from school than other children and are often given part-time timetables that they do not want. In some cases, a child can be on a timetable for as little as 30 minutes or one hour a week, even if they want to be in school for longer.”

Louise Hunter, Chief Executive Officer at Who Cares? Scotland, said: “Every child and young person in Scotland deserves to have an education that allows them to learn, flourish and dream big. But our report highlights that the most basic right to education for too many Care Experienced pupils is not being met.

“Scotland must uphold this right and within our report there are three recommendations on how to make this happen. First, there must be action on advocacy. The Government must legislate for a statutory right to independent, relationship-based, lifelong advocacy for all Care Experienced people who need it.

“Next, the commitment within The Promise to end the formal and informal exclusion of Care Experienced pupils must be enforced. Lastly, a whole-school approach to supporting Care Experienced children and young people must be adopted. Only then will we be able to ensure all pupils in Scotland are taught in communities that care.”

Ms Killean is urging the Scottish Government to immediately scrutinise the use of informal exclusions and part-time tables to ensure that the rights of Care Experienced children and young people are respected, protected and fulfilled.

Top of page picture: Nicola Killean, Children’s Commissioner