This paper reports the long term effects of maternal deprivation and of a foster family care for siblings. In a permanent placement (children's villages) a single housemother cares for siblings until adulthood and receives the help of a psycho‐educative team. Investigation on school achievement and on level of education was made on all the subjects reared in a voluntary association of children's villages. It proves to be better compared with children in traditional foster care and children brought up by their parents from very disadvantaged backgrounds. A large part of school failure is lessened for children admitted before 6.