To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of children in foster care who enter tertiary education. [HL3372]

The Education and Skills Act 2008 will mean that all young people, including those living with foster carers, will be required to continue in post-16 education or training. Through both the Right 2B Cared 4 and the Staying Put: 18+ Family Placement Pilots, which the Government are funding, children in care will have the chance to benefit from a stable family placement beyond the age of 16 so that they move to independent living only when they feel properly prepared and ready. These pilots provide the stability and support necessary for young people to achieve in education, training and employment. In addition, the Children and Young Persons Act extends the right for all care leavers to a personal adviser until the age of 25 if they are in education and training and places a requirement on local authorities to pay a bursary to care leavers who undertake a course of higher education.