Education is the key to happiness – that means doing what you want, when you want, getting your dream job, the house, the car, the holidays ……. the lot! The local authority has a responsibility to do all it can to make sure you continue school with as little upset as possible.

We want to make sure that you receive a good education. The law states that children must be in education from the age of 5 until 16. When you finish year 11 you must then do 2 years of either education or training. You can do up to 20 hours of part time work or volunteering alongside an education or training course.

The right education means the right job or career for you in the future – it means security and independence. Your day-to-day life in school can provide stability and friendship and be central to your future. Going to school is a real opportunity for you to gain the qualifications and opportunities you need to succeed. YOU have a responsibility to make sure you go to school every day. If there is a reason that you do not want to go to school, please speak to your social worker or foster carer – they will be able to help you sort out whatever the problem is.

All schools have a designated teacher for children and young people who are in our care. Designated teachers are teachers who can work with you to understand from your point of view what it feels like to be in our care.  They are there to look after your best interests and support you if you need any help. They won’t know everything about your background but they will try to understand things you might be going through.

Who else can help me?

• Form teachers/tutors, or class teachers are there to help
• Head of Year/ Learning Manager can
• Some young people have a learning support assistant who may
  
  also help
• School counsellors can offer support
• SENCO (Special Education Needs Co-ordinator)
• School nurses are an important part of the support system,
  
  providing medical advice, some counselling and general support.
• An Access and Attendance Officer can also be there for you.
• Pastoral care involves the support the school provides to promote wellbeing of all pupils.

Advisory Teacher

The advisory teacher’s job is to support young people who do not have a school place or who are having problems going to school regularly or those who have been excluded.

The advisory teacher goes in and talks to your teachers about what you are good at and what could be improved on.

Advisory teachers also work with foster carers and social workers, giving them training on how to help more with school work.

Learning Support Specialists

These specialists go into schools and work with you for a short while, to help and support you if you are struggling with a particular subject or area of school.

The learning support specialists will give you different ways of understanding and help you catch up with work you don’t understand.

What your carers can do to support you

Your carers are there to support you to get the best from your school and to enjoy your time at school.

Your carers will probably visit your school from time to time to make sure that you are doing ok there.  They will help you get to school every day.

They will help you get organised for school by helping you sort out clothes, school equipment that you might need etc.

Your carers should support you in doing homework by giving you a quiet place to study, and by giving you help if you need it.

Being excluded

• You are excluded if your behaviour is not acceptable.
• You can be excluded for a certain time or permanently.
• A fixed term exclusion can be from one hour to 45 days.

All exclusions must be accompanied with a letter, stating the reason for your exclusion and a date when you can return to school, and the date of when your return to school meeting will take place.

The school must tell your carer if you are going to be excluded, and for how long, before the exclusion takes place.

Schools should give you work to complete while you are away from school during the exclusion period, and a teacher should mark this work.

School’s should not inform a student/pupil that they are being unofficially excluded, or to go home for a cooling off period.

Personal education plan (PEP)

A PEP is part of your care plan that helps check whether you’re getting the support you need to be successful and the best you can be in school.

You should have a current PEP which is stored electronically and updated every term.

Your PEP should be discussed in your review.

Some young people with special educational needs will have an EHC plan which is more specific about what support they require in school.

Some people have an individual education plan, or a pastoral support plan – all of these plans will be part of your PEP.

Your PEP should be written within 20 days of you starting at a school or coming into care.

Your PEP should make sure that everyone pays full attention to your education.

It is important that you contribute to your PEP.  The PEP will help everyone listen to what

Your PEP will include:

• what you enjoy at school
• what you are good at in school
• any areas you would like to improve on
• details of any extra support you need
• plans for your future, including what you would like to do when you leave school.
• how your carer will help with your education and interests, like hobbies and sports.
• anything else you think is important