Children in care often face great instability. They may be the victims of abuse or neglect in their original family lives. Once in care, they may move care placement frequently, sometimes at short notice. They may have to move school after going into care or changing care placement.

Levels of achievement among children in care are significantly worse than among their peers. Study support is one way of supporting children in care and helping to raise their attainment and aspirations. Evaluation of study support has found firm evidence that participating pupils do better than expected from baseline measures in academic attainment, attitudes to school and attendance at school. Research has also found that students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those in need of additional support with their learning benefit the most from participation in study support activities. 

The Education Protects website offers a range of practical examples of how some authorities have gone about providing study support for looked after children in their area. See 'Raising Attainment' under 'Corporate Parenting'.

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