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Higher education

​There is a bursary of £2,000 when going on to study a recognised higher education (post 18 education, such as a university) and that arrangements for the payment of the bursary are agreed by the young person as part of the overall package of support that a local authority provides to its care leavers.

National network for the education of care leavers

Supporting our young people into higher education is a priority. A successful bid to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to improve access to information about higher education has led to the development of a new website which will act as a single point of information for virtual schools, social workers, foster parents and other professionals who have responsibility for the educational outcomes and progression of young people in care or leaving care. The funding to develop the website has been secured from the HEFCE through the National Networks for Collaborative Outreach (NNCO), a £22 million scheme aimed to encourage more young people into higher education (HE). National Network for the Education of Care Leavers’ (NNECL) is one of three national networks to win funding and is the only network focusing on the progression of children in care into further and higher education.​

The website has been developed by the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL), a network of further and higher education institutions and national organisations including The Careleavers’ Association, The Who Cares? Trust and the National Union of Students.  Working together NNECL aims to transform the progression of young people in or leaving care into and through further and higher education, by championing the continuous improvement of local practice, multi-agency partnerships and national collaboration.

The website includes a directory of events, including taster days, mentoring programmes, summer schools and also CPD events for professionals; all delivered by higher education institutions and charities across England.  Visitors to the site will be able to search by geographical radius, age range and activity type to find relevant activities in their area.  58 events have been listed on the website so far with further events being added every day.   The website also includes a resources area and news page providing up to date and high quality information relating to HE access, admissions and student support.

Please visit National Network for the Education of Care Leavers for further information.

You can also download and print this flyer​​ for display and distribution among your students​

If you have any questions about the website or the NNECL network please get in touch with Rachel Lad, Collaborative Outreach Network Manager, University of Winchester, Tel. +44 (0)1962 827688 or email rachel.lad@winchester.ac.uk​​