It is important for teachers to know their pupils, the context from which they come, and to recognize children's strengths as well as their learning difficulties and their causes. Appropriate support at school and at home can improve the educational achievements of children in care. The aim of the study is to reveal the learning difficulties of children in care.

Qualitative research was conducted for the study using a semi-structured interview method. The research question was: What are the learning difficulties faced by children in care?

The data obtained during the study were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Qualitative content analysis was performed based on inductive category formation logic based on the study data. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of research ethics: confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation in the research. The study involved 15 professionals, working in family based home, located in different regions of Lithuania.

The analysis of the survey data highlighted the educational difficulties faced by children in care at individual (child), school and family based home levels. Difficulties at the individual (child) level include academic gaps, cognitive and emotional difficulties, lack of self-control, self-confidence, polite communication, cooperation, conflict resolution, motivation to learn, resistance to negative influences from others, and lack of responsibility to self and others. At school level, children in care face negative attitudes of teachers towards children in care, low academic standards, rejection by peers, lack of educational support specialists, lack of individual help to overcome learning difficulties and lack of cooperation between the educational institution and foster parents. At the level of the family based home, the difficulties identified were negative peer pressure, a high concentration of traumatized children and a lack of strategies available to the career to motivate the child to learn.

The study is a part of a project funded by the State Budget titled "Establishment of Centers of Excellence at Mykolas Romeris University," which is implemented under the initiative "Centers of Excellence Initiative" initiated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania.“

Keywords: Learning difficulties, child in care, school.