“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world”
Nelson Mandela
Little Stars Learners Program
The plight of educational outcomes for kids in foster care
Children in foster care often experience poor educational outcomes. Research shows that the educational gap between children in foster care and their peers tends to begin at a young age, increase as they get older, and persist through the course of their lives.
The reasons why our children in care tend to have poor educational outcomes includes pre-foster care factors such as maltreatment, neglect, disruptive behaviour and the impacts of trauma on the developing brain. Other in-care factors include placement instability, school interruptions, instability caused by intermittent visits with parents and separation from siblings and extended family. In many cases, children simply get lost in the system from an early stage and fall behind with little hope of catching up once the foundations of learning have been missed.
Poor educational outcomes can lead to low self-esteem, children disengaging with the school system prematurely, joblessness, engagement with the criminal justice system, drug abuse, mental health issues, youth pregnancy, suicide and a continuation of the cycle of abuse for offspring.
Breaking the cycle – education is the key
Education can play a significant role in changing the cycle for our children in foster care. When children in care miss the basics of reading and writing and are struggling to keep up with their peers, this can adversely affect self-esteem, confidence and reinforce negative beliefs that they child may have about themselves. This impacts upon social relationships at school and therefore a child’s engagement with education and their entire sense of self.
Conversely, if children can succeed in reading and maths at an early stage and achieve small successes at school, their confidence can be improved, and self-esteem grows as does their engagement with learning.
If children can engage with learning at an early stage and achieve positive outcomes at school, this can be the impetus that a child needs to develop hope and a positive vision of their life for the future.
How Little Stars Learners Program helps change lives
Our Little Stars Learners Program provides educational support through one on one academic tutoring and support for children in care.
Our tutors have specialised training in trauma and the impacts on the developing brain and understand the obstacles facing children in out of home care.
We believe that the early years are the key years where solid foundations can be laid for educational success.
Therefore, our Little Stars Learners Program targets children from Prep to Grade 6, with a particular focus on ensuring foundations for success in learning are laid by Grade 3.
Apply for the Little Stars Learners Program
We are currently at capacity for 2021 and do not have any spots available in the Little Stars Learners Program. However, if you wish to apply for a spot for 2022, please check the Criteria For lodging an Expression of Interest in the Little Stars Learners Program.
Expression of Interest for the Little Stars Learners Program 2022
Criteria for Lodging an Expression of Interest in the Little Stars Learners Program
IMPORTANT: Please click below to access the Criteria for Lodging an Expression of interest in the Little Stars Learners
Sponsor a child and support our mission
Our mission is to provide academic tutoring and support to as many children as possible in foster care in South East Queensland.
If you would like to get involved and support our mission you can contact us at info@littlestarskids.org.au or donate at www.littlestarskids.org.au/donate.