Care leavers suffer schooling gap

Almost half of children leaving care have no qualifications in their twenties compared with one in six of the general population, according to a report by Barnado's.

A similar proportion of care leavers are unemployed and struggling to survive on benefits, Professor Mike Stein, who carried out the study, said.

Those who went on schemes developed in the last decade to help care leavers were more likely to find good accommodation, managed their budgets better and were more likely to find work than those who did not. The charity is calling for more commitment and resources so that care leavers do not fall through the gaps in the support network.

'What Works in Leaving Care?' (pounds 6.99) is from Barnado's Child Care Publications, Barnado's Trading Estate, Paycocke Road, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3DR Glenda Cooper