Kingston University's support for care experienced students praised by Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza

Posted Monday 4 November 2024

The Children's Commissioner for England's praise is the latest acknowledgment of Kingston University's support for care experienced students.

Kingston University's award-winning support for care leavers, estranged students, young adult carers and sanctuary scholars has been hailed as promising practice by the Children's Commissioner for England.

Dame Rachel de Souza cited the University's work supporting students from a care background through its award-winning KU Cares programme in a new report aiming to help professionals working in higher education improve the lives of care experienced students. The University has been widely acclaimed for its sector-leading work with care experienced students since the inception of KU Cares in 2006.

Head Start, the University's pre-application summer programme which helps give potential students a first taste of campus life, a graduation bursary for care leavers on successful completion of their degrees and a Graduation Support Fund for care experienced students were among the schemes highlighted in the report.

It also noted the University's contributions to local and regional groups, such as the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) London Group and Aim High London Network. Titled Supporting Care Experienced Students, the report was released to coincide with National Care Leavers Week, which this year focused on solidarity with care experienced people and encouraging change in policy.

The Children's Commissioner's report, which has been converted into a handbook for higher educational professionals, is the latest in a series of reports in which the University's provision has been highlighted as an example of good practice, enhancing its strong reputation in this area. Kingston was also one of the first institutions to be awarded an NNECL Quality Mark.

Student Inclusion Manager Beth Taswell said she had been particularly encouraged to see Kingston University's support for graduating care experienced and estranged students recognised in the report, with access to higher education traditionally being more of a focus in similar publications.

"For students with little to no family support, approaching graduation can feel really daunting as the safety net of university support nears an end," she said. "The KU Cares team's proactive approach to supporting our students as they come to end of their studies creates a positive conclusion to their degrees, contributing to them moving on to fulfilling lives after university."