our research
Rees Centre, Department of Education, University of Oxford
See our latest reportsUnderstanding and improving the lives of looked after and adopted children
Rees Centre, Department of Education, University of Oxford
The Rees Centre produces research evidence to improve policy and practice relating to children’s social care and education. We aim to improve the educational outcomes, wellbeing and life chances of those who are, or have been supported by children’s social care services, with a focus on children in need (including those in care), adoptive and special guardianship families and care experienced adults. Our work is supported by a variety of funders and includes the Hadley Programme of Research led by Professor Julie Selwyn.
A new study looking into the definition of success for care leavers.
A new longitudinal study into the experiences, needs and outcomes of young people and their families.
A mixed-methods study into the elements of effective practice for virtual schools for children in care in England
Evaluating new policy to support children in need and care leavers
An innovative collaboration between LAs and universities to transform how information about and from children and families is gathered, interpreted and used in child and family social policy
Exploring how local authorities are innovating in supporting attachment and trauma awareness in schools
This project will explore pathways into and through higher education for young people in England who have had a social worker
A feasibility study of STrAWB, funded by NIHR, following on from pilot testing, STrAWB aims to support the well-being of looked-after children.
A landmark research project into the outcomes of open adoption from out- of-home care in Australia.
This project will devise and test an evidence-informed guideline designed to inform practice when the State intervenes to protect infants at birth through care proceedings.
This evaluation assesses the impact on policies and practice for looked after children when local authorities take part in the Bright Spots Programme.
An evaluation of new models of providing adoption services in England
An action research project that aims to help local authorities better understand the needs of the children they look after through an anonymous online survey for looked after children aged 4-18yrs.
Study led by the Open University investigates how separated child migrants and those involved in their care make sense of care relationships and care practices.
A software tool that can be used to explore the relationship between needs, costs and outcomes of services provided to looked after children.
This five year research programme is evaluating the impact of 'whole school' attachment and trauma awareness training on experiences and outcomes for vulnerable young people
This large-scale study explores in detail what factors, including earlier education and training, contribute to whether care leavers are in employment at age 21.
This study investigates the educational trajectories, attainments and experiences of Children In Care and In Need, including the perspectives of parents, pupils and professionals.
We are developing and delivering evaluations for seven of the UK-based projects funded by the UK government's DfE Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme.
The project will examine and explore specialist and therapeutic fostering and assess its effectiveness for adolescents, alongside addressing professionalisation in respect to fostering relationships.
This study aims to design an outcomes framework for Children’s Social Care Services based on the views of those who plan, deliver and use these services as well as the existing evidence base.
The Rees Centre was appointed as Evaluation Co-ordinator across the entire programme for round one, 2014-2016.
Assess applicability of existing ethical frameworks to current machine learning practices, identify complexities of children's social care which would influence ethics of using machine learning
A range of adoption related projects led by Professor Julie Selwyn.
A range of kinship care related projects have been led by Professor Julie Selwyn.
A range of fostercare related projects have been led by Professor Julie Selwyn.
Projects led by Professor Julie Selwyn
First major study in the UK to explore educational outcomes, young people’s care histories and individual characteristics by linking national datasets.
Research by Ellie Ott and team on available educational provision for unaccompanied asylum seeking children in England
An ESRC funded seminar series to address issues around fostering teenagers including offending, sexual exploitation and asylum seekers
A study exploring the impact of unproven allegations on foster carers in order to improve the way that allegations are dealt with by fostering services, local authorities and the police.
The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory will improve the use of data and research evidence in the family justice system in England & Wales in order to support the best possible decisions for children
A longitudinal mixed methods study (October 2017-June 2019) exploring reasons for fixed term exclusions, outcomes by age 16 and perspectives of those involved.
Evaluation of Attachment Awareness programmes in schools in three local authorities using a mixed methods approach.
A mixed methods study exploring the factors that influence outcomes in higher education for care-experienced or estranged students.
A pilot project testing a training and assessment package to be used by foster carers and schools to improve early identification of potential mental health difficulties in children.
A reading programme, co-designed with Queen’s University Belfast for children aged 7-9 in foster care using an approach called 'paired reading'.
A mixed methods evaluation of the Buddy project run by the charity Siblings Together.
A mixed methods evaluation of a programme that is designed to improve educational outcomes for fostered children in London.
A series of reviews by the Rees Centre that examine existing research evidence on topics related to foster care and education.
How we process your personal data if you agreed to participate in a research study or project run by academic researchers at the University of Oxford; and/or provided your personal data to another organisation who has passed on that data to the University of Oxford for research purposes.
