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Paper

Reaching higher for young people looked after– the ‘Stepping Stones’ programme of Aimhigher, Leeds

abstract

Introduction

Good parents encourage their children to succeed, support their aspirations and help them to plan for their futures. A local authority must do likewise for children and young people in care.

 

"Looked after children have the right to expect the same outcomes we all want for every child - that they should be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution to society and achieve economic wellbeing. To achieve these five outcomes, local authorities as their 'corporate parents', should demonstrate the strongest commitment to helping every child they look after, wherever the child is placed, to achieve the highest educational standards he or she possibly can. This includes supporting their aspirations to achieve in further and higher education." [1]

 

The Aimhigher programme aims to widen and deepen participation in higher education to help create a higher education system that includes all who can benefit from it - particularly those who might not view learning as an option, or who perhaps face social, cultural, economic or institutional barriers.

 

The Stepping Stones programme therefore became part of Leeds Aimhigher in order to promote a positive image of looked after children, to make use of the partnerships inherent within Aimhigher and to contribute to the promotion of a corporate culture that has high expectations of young people and of those who promote their educational achievements and raise their aspirations.

 

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are required to target Aimhigher activities and, as a principle, resources should be targeted at learners form communities that are under represented in higher education.

 

Purpose

The aims of the programme are to offer practical support to young people looked after to identify and develop their educational potential, to raise their aspirations and to encourage them to consider the benefits of further and higher education.

 

Methods

The first step was to bring together those partners who could contribute positively to the aims of the Stepping Stones programme. From within Leeds City Council, this comprised Aimhigher (Education Leeds), Social Services, Pathway Planning[2] and Leeds Mentoring. Access managers form Leeds University, Leeds Metropolitan University and Joseph Priestley College joined the group along with a representative of Leeds Careers.

 

Central to the success of the Stepping Stones programme is, of course, the active involvement of young people and their parents and carers are also encouraged to become main partners of the programme. Our aim in working with parents and carers is to help them to become more confident and effective in their ability to support and promote the education of the young people they are looking after.

 

Description of the work

The programme has five distinct but complementary elements:

  • A wide range of evening and holiday programmes for young people and parents/carers in partnership with local authority and other providers.
  • Supporting the local authority to raise the educational achievements of young people through Year 6 - Year 7 transition programmes and for students in Years 9, 10 and 11 through homework/study support sessions (3 per week) in partnership with the City Learning Centres, Leeds University and Leeds Metropolitan University; Saturday homework/study support sessions (monthly) with Leeds Metropolitan University.
  • Raising aspirations of young people, parents/carers and others through Family Days at university, events to raise awareness of university summer schools and free places on university summer schools.
  • Mentoring - engaging a large number of mentors from universities and the commercial sector to offer academic and personal support to young people.
  • Developing partnerships - the Stepping Stones steering group involves young people and relevant partners from Aimhigher, HE, social services and Careers. Stepping Stones has also established a North of England network including Aimhigher, and HEIs to share strategies and practice.

 

Key findings and recommendations

  • Programmes such as Stepping Stones don't just happen. They need a 'driver' - someone who can focus on the issue and who has the knowledge, experience and interpersonal skills to bring together the various agencies.
  • The 'driver' has also to ensure continuity and therefore has to work at the initial organising and recruitment and also to enable agencies to ember the concept within their own philosophies, policies and plans.
  • HEIs need to have a contact within Children's Services who can assist with the practical work of attracting young people in care and their parents / carers.
  • Using undergraduates as mentors helps to dispel any misconceptions about higher education.
  • Marketing the programme is important not just in terms of notices and letters but also organising awareness events and dinners.
  • Continually working with young people and parents / carers to evaluate and amend programmes.
  • Ensuring that local councillors and senior management are fully aware of and support the programmes.
  • Counters the negative views about LAC.
  • Essential to start the programme from age 13 onwards and not wait until young people are making decisions at 16 or 18.

 

"Programmes such as Stepping Stones have helped to raise the aspirations and as a result, 40 care leavers are currently attending university, five of whom are studying at Masters Level" [3]

 

Contact details

Ken Campbell, Stepping Stones Programme Manager, Aimhigher Leeds

School Improvement Service, Education Leeds, Elmete Centre, Elmete Lane, Leeds LS8 2LJ, UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 113 2144493

Email: ken.campbell@educationleeds.co.uk

 


[1] Department for Education and Skills Statutory Guidance: Duty on local authorities to promote the educational achievement of looked after children (2005)

[2] 'Pathway Planning' is the service to support care leavers - those young people over 16 years of age

[3] Ofsted Joint Area Review of Leeds Children's Services Authority Area, May 2008

 

 

 

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