The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is aiming to become the first combined authority to achieve National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) accreditation across the region. Following a successful pilot, the GMCA and NNECL will work together to support all post-16 education providers in Greater Manchester to achieve the NNECL Quality Mark over the next three academic years. This initiative recognises the barriers faced by young people with care backgrounds in accessing further and higher education.
The NNECL Quality Mark aims to ensure learning institutions across the region have the right support in place so that young people from care backgrounds have the best conditions to learn. National data confirms young people with experience of being in care achieve 'significantly lower educational outcomes' than their non-care experienced peers. Across the UK, care leavers are identified as a 'priority group' for outreach and support from universities and colleges.
Only 14 per cent of young care leavers enter higher education compared to 47 per cent of those without care backgrounds. The reasons include the impact of early childhood trauma, the difference in attainment between 'looked-after children' and their peers, disrupted education, low expectations from key influencers in a young person’s network, and lack of specific information about the support available to them in higher education. Cllr Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council and GMCA group le.