Education
Education is an important factor in enhancing looked after and adopted children's life chances. Parental involvement in a child's learning is more powerful than family background, size of family or level of parental education and, in the primary years, has more impact on attainment than the school itself.
There are many initiatives that provide support for adopted children throughout their educational careers. You may find the initial information useful whether you are a foster carer or an adopter.
Pre-school aged children
Free early education for 2 year olds: Two year olds who have been adopted from local authority care or are looked after by the local authority are entitled to 570 hours a year of government funded early education over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year. Please visit the Gov.UK website for more details.
Priority admissions to schools: Adopted children are now granted priority admissions to school as per the Government’s School Admissions Code. Parents will be able to use the appeals process or the in-year admission process to make an application under the revised guidance. For more information, please contact the relevant admission authority.
Primary and secondary aged children
Please visit our Support in Schools page for information on:
- Special Educational Needs
- Educational Psychologists
- Education Health Care Plans
- Pupil Premium Plus
- Virtual School Website
College and university
The Buttle Trust “Access To The Future” Grant: this is a grant programme designed to support young people who've been estranged from their families back into employment, education or training. Offers up to a maximum of £3,000 per application can be spent on anything that will help the individual reach their employment. Please visit the The Buttle Trust website for eligibility criteria and note that only support professionals can apply on behalf of the young person.
Propel: The charity Become has created this website to provide further support and information for care leavers looking to go into higher education. Each university has its own page containing an overview of courses and the support it provides care leavers. Alternatively, trying typing “University Name + Care Leaver” into a search engine to find a particular university’s guidance for care leavers.
National Network for the Education of Care Leavers: The NNECL provides resources, events and mentoring to support care leavers with continuing education.
