Abstract

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 a substantial three-year long European Union funded research project led by the authors, this book examines the participation of young people in care in further and higher education in Europe. It provides a historical and legislative overview of the topic and in-depth national case studies look at the situation in England, Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Hungary. The authors set out clearly what we can learn from these cross-national comparisons and how to create more equal opportunities for children and young people in care.

This important book will be essential reading for researchers and policy makers working on child welfare or young people in care, including government and local authority policy-makers, managers of children's and education services, school governors, and academics working in the fields of education, sociology, psychology, social work and social policy.

The authors of this important book have made a substantial contribution to what we know about the dismal educational performance of children and youth in public care. Synthesized data from five countries strongly support what Sonia Jackson has said for decades: "It does not have to be like this". Say it loud and clear, so that everyone can hear.
Bo Vinnerljung, Professor of Social Work, University of Stockholm, Sweden
This excellent and timely book starts from the indisputable premise that the educational experiences and progress of young people in public care have been neglected and little is known about this group of often severely disadvantaged young people. It studies official policies and practices and the experiences of young people themselves and demonstrates that many of the young people leaving care, despite their often negative school and family experiences, have high hopes and expectations of their futures, many aiming for higher education. It should be read by all social and community workers, educationalists, policy-makers and politicians - all of whom need to be better informed of the valuable contribution these young people could make to society.
Sally Tomlinson, Emeritus Professor, Goldsmiths College, London and Senior Research Fellow, Department of Education, University of Oxford

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.