Improving Access to Further and Higher Education for Young People in Public Care ― European Policy and Practice

Across Europe young people in public care are around five times less likely to attend tertiary education than those who have not been in care. This book provides a comprehensive account of why this shocking discrepancy exists and outlines ways to address the imbalance. Drawing extensively on new original research, the book examines the participation of young people in care in further and higher education. It provides a historical and legislative overview of the topic and in-depth national case studies look at the situation in England compared with Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Hungary. The authors set out clearly what we can learn from these comparisons and how to create more equal opportunities for children and young people in care today. This important book will be essential reading for those dedicated to removing barriers to accessing to further and higher education, including FE and HE lecturers, student support staff, social workers, policymakers and researchers working across fields of education, sociology, psychology, social work and social policy.

Sonia Jackson is Professor Emerita of Social Care and Education at the Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. From 2001-2005 she was project director of the UK-based research project By Degrees: From Care to University and followed this by initiating and directing the project on which this book is based: 'Young People in Public Care: Pathways to Education in Europe' (YiPPEE) (2008-2011). She has published widely on the education of young people in out-of-home care.Claire Cameron is a Reader in Education and Co-Deputy Director of the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education. She coordinated the YiPPEE study and has led several national and cross-national studies of children and young people in public care including one on young people leaving care and their access to services.