School support advice for adopted children

[Missmollypolly]

Can anyone recommend any resources that give clarity on specific support that should be available for previously looked after children in schools ( both state and independent) in early years and infant school
Thanks!

Hi there. Google your local authority name + ‘virtual school’. They might be able to help

I don’t think you get anything in independent schools unless the LA is paying for the place as PPP isn’t applicable. In state schools, the school gets PPP for each post lac child which I think is around £2300 a year but it isn’t ring fenced for the child. My child’s had no extra support at all. In reality the PPP has worked against her as she’s in the class with all of the children with challenging behaviour and I suspect this is because ‘her’ money is used to top up the pitiful funding the school gets for children with SEN. I really wish the PPP money was ring-fenced as LAC money is or got rid of as it’s a pretence it goes to support the post lac child.

The virtual school for looked after children in your LA maybe able to offer guidance. Many now have someone in post to support previously looked after children. The main focus of that role is advice and guidance.

PPP money should be ring fenced, though other children can piggy-back onto it. (or at least it used to be).

I'm not sure you will be able to find specific support, just the kind of thing that might be useful. It all depends on the needs of your child.

So maths / literacy intervention, social skills intervention, training for a TA in effects of trauma / attachment difficulties.

Assuming you are trying to identify a school for a DC I would look for one who:

• has experience of children from a variety of backgrounds (which may not be the highest performing academically)
• doesn't have a one method fits all behaviour policy (e.g. many adopted children can't cope with cloud/sun charts)
• seems willing to listen to you on difficulties your child might have
• has a good method for parent-teacher communication

Specific support is usually child dependent and should be based on their needs. One of my children gets a lot of support at school because she really needs it, the other really needs very minimal support.

I’d want the school to have a good understanding of attachment, and the impact of early trauma so they know the lay of the land and I’d then want them to show very flexible ways of working with children eg my daughter can go into school early to get organised for the day before everyone arrives, or she can arrive slightly later if she’s struggling, there are different emotional supports in place for her and the school has positive behaviour management processes (eg no traffic lights or cloud systems here). The school actively work with me to support her but all of the supports are specific to her and flex with her needs.

I’d want the school to have a wide “toolbox” of supports to draw on and to be prepared to listen to me about what works or not.

I’d check what they already have in place for kids with additional needs and their experience of having looked after kids in school. The school choice is important because your child will be there day after day and if they don’t understand their needs it’s going to be very difficult for the child.

beaconhouse.org.uk/resources/

If you scroll down there’s a section on trauma and attachment in the classroom.

The National Association of Therapeutic Parents had some good resources for school. I think you might need to be a member to access them though.