While there is no definitive figure, something like one million adults in the UK spent some of their childhood ‘in care’, usually due to neglect, maltreatment, or other difficulties in their birth family. Indeed, the number of young people in care has risen rapidly in recent years – partly due to the global refugee crisis – and now totals around 100,000 on any given day. This includes fostering, kinship care with extended families, and residential children’s homes, while the time spent in care can vary from one day to a whole childhood.
While each is unique, the life stories of care-experienced young people tend to share some similarities. For most, the legacy of trauma impinges on their ability to engage with education. Frequent absences and unplanned school moves are common, often because of health issues or changes in caring arrangements. Many report stigma and low expectations from teachers and social workers.
