Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 52
52
Rejected
Where a care leaver is over 25, and an apprenticeship would be their first qualification...
Recommendation
Where a care leaver is over 25, and an apprenticeship would be their first qualification since leaving compulsory education, the Department must raise the age limit for receipt of the £1,000 apprenticeship bursary from age 25 to age 30. This would recognise that some looked-after children take longer to fulfil their educational potential due to the multiple disadvantages they have faced. As a care-experienced young person asked us, why, “After 25, should you just be dropped”? (Paragraph 122) Educational poverty: how children in residential care have been let down and what to do about it 51
Government Response Summary
The government believes that 25 is a reasonable point of transition and that targeting support on care leavers aged 18–24 to help them as they move to independent living is the best use of resources, so they will not raise the age limit for the apprenticeship bursary.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
126. We introduced the care leavers bursary in August 2018 to support care leavers in overcoming costs or barriers associated with starting an apprenticeship. These costs and barriers are often most significant for care leavers starting out in the labour market. Since then, more than 1000 care leavers have claimed the bursary. We continue to raise awareness about and monitor uptake of the care leavers bursary. 127. In addition to the bursary, we also provide additional support to employers and training providers taking on an apprentice care leaver. Both the employer and training provider receive a £1,000 payment for each care leaver aged 16–24 years old starting an apprenticeship. These funds can be used in whatever ways the employer and training provider feel is most appropriate to support the apprentice to succeed. 128. In England, local authorities have statutory duties to support care leavers to age 25. In addition, a range of government policies recognise the challenges that care leavers face and provide additional support up to age 21 or 25. 129. The government’s view is that 25 is a reasonable point of transition and that targeting support on care leavers aged 18–24 to help them as they move to independent living is the best use of resources.