Scottish Parliament Written Question

S6W-26325

Tuesday 9th April 2024

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin (Scottish Labour - South Scotland)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects about care experienced young people's school (a) attendance, (b) achievement, (c) attainment and (d) positive destinations; how any such data is analysed, and when it will next be reviewed.

Answered by Gilruth, Jenny - Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

Data on education outcomes of care experienced young people is collected and published as part of the annual Education Outcomes of Looked After Children (EOLAC) Official Statistics publication. This covers pupils in publicly funded mainstream schools in the 32 local authorities, and one grant aided school. For the latest EOLAC 2021-22 publication, information was linked from:

• Looked After Children statistics, 2008-09 - 2021/22
• School Leaver Initial destination data
• School Leaver Follow-up Destination data
• Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Levels data

Information on the methodology used to match looked after children’s data is available in the background notes of the EOLAC 2021-22 publication. The latest education outcomes for looked after children statistics include analysis for:

• All children looked after within the year
• Children looked after for the full year
• Children looked after for part of the year
• Children who had been looked after at some point for any duration since age 5, and since age 12. These statistics were published for the first time in the 2021-22 publication as Experimental Statistics.

The experimental statistics will be reviewed before the next iteration of the statistics, planned for publication in August 2024.

Data on (b) achievement , (c) attainment and (d) positive destinations is collected annually. Further information on the types of analysis breakdowns provided for these education outcomes can be found in the supporting Tables document of the 2021-22 publication. Data on (a) attendance is collected every second year, and was last published in 2020-21. Further information on the types of analysis breakdowns provided for attendance can be found in the supporting Tables document of the 2020-21 publication. Information on the groups each of these education outcomes is analysed for can be found in the respective section of the publication report, as per the hyperlinks provided above.

Scottish Government Publication (Strategy/plan)
Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Ukraine Resettlement Directorate

Mar. 28 2024

Source Page: New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy: 2024
Document: New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy (PDF)

Found: This includes health, education, care and support of children, social care, legal services (including

Scottish Parliament Debate - Main Chamber
Higher Education (Access) - Tue 26 Mar 2024

Mentions:
1: Dey, Graeme (SNP - Angus South) after leaving school is now at a record low. - Speech Link
2: Kerr, Liam (Con - North East Scotland) students with care experience. - Speech Link
3: Thomson, Michelle (SNP - Falkirk East) As a relatively new member of the Education, Children and Young People Committee and, what is more, as - Speech Link
4: Mackay, Rona (SNP - Strathkelvin and Bearsden) I am lucky in that my children and nieces and nephews have all had the chance to go to university. - Speech Link
5: Dunbar, Jackie (SNP - Aberdeen Donside) Often, the bairns were asked what they wanted to do after school. - Speech Link

Scottish Government Publication (Progress report)
Children and Families Directorate
Early Learning and Childcare Directorate
Education Reform Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Health and Social Care Finance, Digital and Governance Directorate
Justice Directorate
Mental Health Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate
Social Security Directorate
Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate
Ukraine Resettlement Directorate

Mar. 25 2024

Source Page: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Scottish Government Initial Response to the Concluding Observations issued by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Document: Initial Response to the UN Committee’s Closing Observations (PDF)

Found: care placements for young people who remained in their placement after ceasing to be looked after.

Scottish Government Publication (Advice and guidance)
Learning Directorate

Mar. 25 2024

Source Page: Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund: operational guidance 2023 to 2024
Document: Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund Operational Guidance 2023-24 (PDF)

Found: Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund: operational guidance 2023 to 2024