This five-year plan covers the University’s ambitions for supporting students who have spent any time in care including residential, foster or kinship care, or who don’t have any family support.
The Plan was developed with care-experienced and estranged students. It confirms the University’s statutory responsibility to meet the needs of care-experienced students so they can be provided with an inclusive and supportive environment. In a sector-leading move, the University is extending this responsibility to cover estranged students too.
It was also developed with input from charities, external partners and key student-facing teams across student funding, accommodation, support and wellbeing and sets out the organisation's commitments at each stage of the student lifecycle, from encouraging students to think about applying to getting a place, settling in and succeeding in their studies.
Staff training
The part each staff member plays in delivering the plan depends on their role. In particular, roles that involve regular contact with students and applicants should be aware of the Corporate Parenting Plan and they’ll be contacted about their specific obligations.
Training sessions have already taken place and a link to a recording can be accessed below. There is an Open University module that staff can access via Learn and further training sessions will be available to book via MyEd. Bespoke sessions are also available for different roles and areas so get in touch with the Edinburgh Cares team.
Training on the Corporate Parenting Plan
Access Learn for Open University Training
Higher education, and a student experience at Edinburgh, has the power to transform the lives of those who come to study with us as well as their families and communities.
We want to ensure that students from a wide range of diverse backgrounds thrive and feel a sense of belonging here.
Our new Corporate Parenting Plan sets out how we will provide an exciting, inclusive and supportive environment in which all students can grow and succeed throughout their studies.
Jessica Hume, Widening Participation Officer
Queries
If you have any questions about the Corporate Parenting Plan, please contact the Edinburgh Cares team on edinburghcares@ed.ac.uk.
Related links
Corporate Parenting Plan 2022-2027
Support for care-experienced applicants and students: video