What is the relationship between childhood maltreatment and early educational outcomes? Findings from the NSW Child Development Study

Snapshot• Children who have experienced maltreatment, no matter the level of involvement with child protectionservices, are at greater risk of attaining poorer educational outcomes in primary school assessments of reading and numeracy.• Compared to non-reported children, children known to child protection services were more likely to have below average primary school assessments of reading and numeracy and less likely to achieve above average results.• Children with substantiated risk of significant harm (ROSH) reports who were not placed into out-of-home-care (OOHC) showed the poorest educational attainment and would benefit from personalised educational supports and educational plans such as those provided for children in OOHC.• The educational attainment of children placed in OOHC appears to be strongly influenced by other related child, family, and neighbourhood factors (e.g., socioeconomic status) that are known to be associated with OOHC placements.• Inter-agency policy collaboration is important, particularly between the Department of Education and the Department of Communities and Justice, to develop and invest in effective multidisciplinary programs that support vulnerable children’s educational needs.° All children in OOHC should participate in the OOHC Education Pathway that provides collaborative and consistent educational support to help them engage with suitable quality education and reach their full learning potential.° Broader provision of educational supports in vulnerable communities, for example under the Government’s Brighter Beginnings initiative, may help to address the impact of maltreatment on educational attainment for all children reported to child protection services