Care experienced children struggling to access right to education in Scotland
A new report commissioned by the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, Nicola Killean, has highlighted significant concerns over the amount of education and support in school care experienced learners in Scotland are receiving.
The report by charity Who Cares? Scotland and published by the Commissioner’s Office (16 June) says that too many care experienced children and young people are not getting the support they need to thrive in education, with exclusions and part-time access significantly affecting their right to education.
The report, ‘Exclusion labelled as Support: Care Experienced children in Scotland’s education system’, looks at evidence collated by Who Cares? Scotland drawn from the issues raised children and young people seeking advocacy have raised with them. The findings show that:
- care experienced children and young people are over-represented in rates of school exclusions and are often subject to part-time timetables limiting their access to education; and
- support services for care experienced young people in education are not consistently available or meeting their needs.
Education is one of the top three issues for young people requesting advocacy from Who Cares? Scotland, with ‘support in school’ being the common subject raised. This includes their experiences and 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. The report argues that the right to independent advocacy can help keep The Promise of Scotland’s Independent Care Review.
Ms Killean has urged the Scottish Government to immediately scrutinise the use of informal exclusions and part-time timetables to ensure that the rights of care experienced children and young people are respected, protected and fulfilled.