Have a read and let us know your thoughts. What more should partners be doing to support this group of students to have better access to, and support to stay, in Higher Education? #wideningaccess #careexperienced #estranged #student

But as @fionaellison.bsky.social said in the article - "We need to turn these plans into meaningful action so that care-experienced and estranged students have equality of opportunity to access and stay in higher education."

That why students on the @unitefoundation.bsky.social scholarship say that without having to worry about paying their rent they're freed up to access everything else university has to offer. How do we ensure more care experienced & estranged students have a free #HomeAtUniversity (2/2)

If you'd like to have a conversation about how you can better support care experienced young people in your institution and delve deeper into what we know about the importance of accommodation - do get in touch with our Director @fionaellison.bsky.social

We know that accommodation scholarships is the only intervention with robust evidence that works to ensure care leavers are able to complete their higher education journey at a rate closer to non-care experienced students. See: thisisusatuni.org/jiscimpactan...

As @omaromalleykhan.bsky.social highlights in his @wonkhe.bsky.social blog "Accommodation is another crucial area where care-experienced people are at a disadvantage" wonkhe.com/blogs/naviga...

But we must go further. This is the second publication in a few months to draw out the poor levels of retention for care experienced young people in higher education. The work that universities are currently doing doesn't go far enough.

The findings back up the comprehensive data picture set out in the report from @smfthinktank.bsky.social that we @Unite Students published at the end of last year. It's encouraging to see TASO back the recommendation about enhanced financial support for care leavers in HE within this report.

If you've been in the care system - whether as a statutory care leaver or part of the wider, often forgotten, cohort of young people who've been part of the care system at some point, you are considerably less likely to go to higher education.

Our research on the impact of accommodation scholarships is the only #TASO level 2 evidence that exists that shows a positive correlation to education attainment.

We will work to do more to demonstrate the impact of utilising accommodation to better support educational outcomes for young people.

...Respondents highlight that this area could be further developed and supported if there was more research into the value of accommodation support packages, clear understanding about local authority responsibilities and consideration of the shortfall of support for graduates with care experience."

We @unitefoundation.bsky.social were encouraged to see participants exploring the impact on student accommodation, with participants saying "engaging with the Quality Mark supports some institutions with their thinking and policy development on accommodation for students with care experience...

There is much to take from the report, with the key sense from participants that focusing on this hugely underserved group of students brings cross-institutional benefits for students.