Academics at the University of London's Institute of Education fear that the increase in tuition fees coupled with local government cuts are set to reduce the already small number of care leavers who go on to university.
The study compared the experience of care leavers in education across Europe and found that close, ongoing support from adults with schooling and reliable financial support with education are crucial to helping children in care with aspirations of taking a degree.
But they say such support in England is under threat by the forthcoming hike in tuition fees and cuts to council services. They praise the development of leaving care teams in England but fear they will be among services affected by spending cuts.
Professor Sonia Jackson, director of the YIPPEE project (Young People in Public Care – Pathways to Education in Europe), said: "The key messages we take from our findings are that if young people who have been in state care are to have equal chances with others they must be allowed sustained educational support from their everyday carers, time to recover from painful experiences, opportunities to return to education after intermissions, and above all continuing financial support."
The Yippee project is funded by the European Union and is coordinated by the Thomas Coram Research Unit, which is part of the Institute of Education.
