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“My attendance has almost doubled since two years ago and I will leave school with some national qualifications, I am looking forward to going to college.” – speaking at the Council’s Community ߣsir��Ƶ Committee, a young care experienced person told Councillors how ongoing help and support is improving outcomes for them. 

ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute Council has reaffirmed its commitment to raising attainment and delivering positive outcomes for Care Experienced Children and Young People (CECYP) across ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute in the coming year.

At a meeting of the Community ߣsir��Ƶ Committee, Councillors welcomed the latest round of Scottish Government funding from the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund, as part of the Scottish Attainment Challenge. They also heard from a care experienced young person who talked about how the help they have received from the Education Service and staff who work with them has made a big difference. The funding will ensure ongoing support from the Care Experienced Education Team including the Virtual Head Teacher initiative and Health and Wellbeing Liaison Officers. 

Councillors also received updates on priority areas such as school attendance, attainment and positive destinations for ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute’s care experienced children and young people .

The latest report shows that:

• For 2023–24, attendance of Primary Care Experienced and Young People was 91.5%, up 0.8% on 2022-23. Secondary attendance for 2023–24 was 80.8%, down 1.2% from the previous year with clear plans in place to address the slight decline.

• National 4 results for all learners are above the national average by 15.5%

• For those care experienced young people eligible to leave school between September 2023– September 2024, 97% were in an initial positive destination, surpassing the Council’s Corporate Parenting Board target of 90%

• MCR Pathways, who provide a mentoring programme to care experienced young people now work in four ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute secondary schools with plans to expand this service. 

ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute was one of the first authorities to deliver Education Scotland’s I Promise Award, a professional learning programme which supports anyone working with children and young people, particularly those who are care experienced by raising awareness and providing vital context . In addition, the Council’s Chief Officers Group was the first local authority senior leadership team in Scotland to receive the We Promise Award. This includes the Chief Executive of ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute Council, Executive Directors and all Heads of Service. 

The Promise is the Scottish Government’s pledge which sets out the commitment to improve the experiences of and opportunities available to care experienced children, young people and their families across Scotland. Its aim being to ensure every child in Scotland grows up loved, safe and respected and able to realise its full potential.

Speaking about the help they receive, one ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute care experienced young person said:

“My timetable has been changed a lot so I can go to classes I like that will help me in my work when I leave school.  I get to use different spaces in school that I like and know where to go when I need some space from class. I now have a Chromebook to help with my work and I have an adult who helps me with learning and a class that helps me with certain subjects. 

I’ve also been to different things outside of school, like football which was fun. I am getting to go on a Firefighter experience day, which I can’t wait for. The people where I live and school talk and meet about the best ways to help me, and they listen to what I want. I have a mentor that I meet every week. My attendance has almost doubled since two years ago and I will leave school with some national qualifications, I am looking to going to college.”

Councillor Audrey Forrest, Policy Lead for Education: “As part of our commitment to The Promise, we are fully focused on ensuring that we continue to refine and enhance the support we provide for our Care Experienced Children and Young People across ߣsir��Ƶ and Bute .

“Our aim, via funding from the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund, is to continue to do all we can to support our care experienced youngsters, providing them with the best opportunities to achieve their educational ambitions and the best possible outcomes in their future lives and careers.”