Pathways to University from Care
This report is based on the research ‘Battling the Odds: Pathways to University from Care’.
Pathways to University from Care - Findings Report One' invited care experienced students to share their journeys through care and their transitions to university life. The report focuses particularly on the issues affecting care experienced students in their journey to and through university. The recommendations at the end of the report highlight the steps that universities can take in order to support their students through this transition and improve outcomes for their care experienced students:
- Define who is considered a ‘care leaver’
- Offer contextual admissions where appropriate
- Have a designated named contact
- Be clear about the nature of ‘support’ on offer
- Offer a care leaver bursary
- Offer training to Local Authorities, Personal Advisers, Schools and Colleges
- Run pre-entry summer schools and homework clubs
- Offer support on arrival day
- Provide welcome packs for students in their accommodation
- Introduce early registration for care experienced students
- Introduce alcohol-free accommodation options
- Offer affordable 365-day accommodation
- Train all student-facing staff to recognise the additional needs of care experienced students
- Fast track mental health support
- Boost support for final year students
- The team behind the report also prepared a short video based on its findings, which incorporates the views and perspectives of 234 university students with care experience.