A recent conference held in Eastbourne brought together representatives from education and social care including social workers, teachers, psychologists, carers and school governors – plus a group of looked after children – to discuss ways of providing a better time at school for children in care.
National statistics highlight the fact that many looked after children sometimes struggle to keep up with the attainment levels of their classmates and East Sussex County Council wants to break this cycle of under achievement.
Leaders of Children’s Services in the County say that everyone needs to work together to improve thesituation. Councillor Meg Stroude, Lead Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:
"At any one time we have about 450 children in care in East Sussex. The most important point to remember is that the majority of these young people are in this situation through no fault of their own. In most cases they are the victims and many of them find it very difficult to get on at school. This is where working together can make such a difference.”
"We must put in place a plan for each child to make sure they get all the support they need to make up for an uncertain start in life – to help each one of them to make the very best of their talents and potential. That means expecting not only more of them – as we would our own children but it also means expecting more of ourselves as custodians of their futures”.
Notes to editors
The conference was held at the Cavendish Hotel on Thursday 24 June 2004.
Delegates included Cheryl Miller, Chief Executive of the County Council, Councillor Meg Stroude, and Derek Greenup, Headteacher, William Parker Sports College, Hastings who chaired the conference. Rosie Seymour from the Social Exclusion Unit and Felicity Fletcher-Campbell from the National Foundation for Educational Research also attended. East Sussex County Councillors also attended and the day included a presentation to the conference by a group of looked after children.
Nationally 53% of looked after children leave school with only one GCSE and less than 1% go on to higher education. County Council Social Services and Education Departments have been working together to help narrow the gap between the educational attainment and participation of children in care and that of their peers. Initiatives include:
- A Personal Education Plan for each looked after child.
- More advice to schools and social workers on the best school placements and support.
- Ensuring a more ‘joined up approach’ between staff in social services, education and health.
- A referral service for those children at greatest risk of under achievement at school – including mentoring, help with homework, tutoring and counselling.
- The help of an education welfare officer to support looked after children and their carers and encourage regular attendance at school.
Reference:
04/212/MF
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