Fostering Attainment and Achievement is a unique service in Northern Ireland which aims to improve educational outcomes for looked after children in foster care.
Commissioned by the Department of Health’s, Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG), the service is delivered by The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland. It recognises the need to improve educational attainment of children and young people in foster care, and the vital role foster carers play in supporting this aim.
For more information about Fostering Attainment and Achievement contact the Northern Ireland team at ni@fostering.net.
For media enquiries regarding Fostering Kinship Support, please email The Fostering Network's media team or phone 020 7620 6441.
Find out more about our wider work in Northern Ireland.
Objectives of the programme
To provide an educational support service for children and young people in foster and kinship care to:
- improve educational outcomes for children and young people in foster care
- promote resilience, economic wellbeing and independence
- enhance ability and readiness to learn.
Provide a service to foster carers to:
- Support them in their role as primary educators
- Provide training, information and support on the educational needs of children and young people in foster care
More about Fostering Attainment and Achievement
The programme offers support to children from six months before starting primary school and can continue until age 18. Foster carers looking after a young person in Northern Ireland can access the service.
Fostering Attainment and Achievement has several strands which you can read more about below.
Summer programme
The Fostering Network is delivering a variety of summer activities for young people in foster and kinship care during July and August 2025 as part of the Fostering Attainment and Achievement programme.
Find out more about the summer programme
Pathways to employment
Pathways to employment is a programme designed to help young people in foster care explore their career options.
Each year, we run a series of exciting and interactive workshops for young people aged 14-17 which give them a taste of different employment options.
Find out more about our latest sessions here
Education resources
The Fostering Attainment and Achievement programme also provides direct educational support and resources to children and young people in foster care.
This may include:
- tuition
- computers
- afterschool activities such as music, drama, horse-riding or sport.
Referrals for education resources can be made by the child’s social worker or supervising social worker, based on an assessment of need. All resources should be agreed as part of a personal education plan, care planning process or looked after children’s review.
Contact the team for more information
Supporting care experienced young people in education: e-learning resource
This interactive course supports all those involved in the education of children in foster care to reflect and develop their knowledge and practice on how to best help them in schools.
The resource includes creative pieces of work by care experienced young people, quotes and composite stories.
Support for foster carers
Our Fostering Attainment and Achievement project workers will work with foster carers to provide advice, support and resources to help them engage with the education system. Support includes:
- one to one support on all education matters, including Looked After Children Reviews and Personal Education Plan meetings
- training, workshops and masterclasses focusing on education
- education resources including a guide specifically for foster carers.
Contact the team for more information
Wild about learning
Wild about learning is a trauma-informed educational outdoor programme run by The Fostering Network in Northern Ireland. It offers young people aged eight-to-11 an opportunity to experience learning through nature in the great outdoors.
The programme uses fun and engaging activities to promote social and emotional wellbeing and academic learning. As well as building relationships with other children in foster care, activities help to develop:
- communication
- teamwork
- self-confidence
- problem-solving skills.
Contact the team to find out when the next scheme is in your area.