Enfield 2 Data from Department for Education Statistical First
Release as at 31 March 2014 Based on children looked after
continuously for at least 12 months in England Educational
Attainment at Key Stage 4
Slide 3
Enfield Why London Fostering Achievement? 3 My favourite
teacherhad such a love and passion for his subject, and his
students, that hes inspired me to pursue both fine art and
teaching. My foster carers had a massive impact on my education.
When I first moved in with them I was attending a very disruptive
school in special measures and looking at Us for my GCSEs. They
moved house for me to go to a better school and supported and
believed in me when nobody else did. They encouraged me to believe
in myself and through their help and my determination I left school
with 14 A*-C Grades. It doesnt matter where youre at, or what
people say you will achieve, if you believe in yourself then
anything is possible. If you dream big you have a chance of
reaching it, but if you dont dream at all then how can you expect
anything good to come your way? Zoe, Young Ambassador London
Fostering Achievement
Slide 4
Enfield What is London Fostering Achievement? 4 Boosting the
skills and confidence of foster carers to support education
Bringing together foster carers, teachers, social workers, leaders
and other professionals
Slide 5
Enfield Training We have run 32 sessions covering 31 boroughs
and training over 1250 foster carers, teachers, social workers and
other professionals 5 Key Training session booked or taken place
Unable to participate
Slide 6
Enfield Training Breakdown of training attendees 6 RoleNumber
of attendeesComments Foster carers765Far fewer kinship carers
School staff128Includes Designated Teachers, Deputy Heads and
teaching assistants Social workers175Far fewer Childrens Social
Workers Virtual School reps55Large variance in structures
Other142Includes Local Authority and IFP staff, fostering panel
members, LAC nurses TOTAL1265
Slide 7
Enfield Training Feedback relevant to IROs Some foster carers
and local authorities have reported delays in circulating the
Personal Education Plan There are things foster carers can do at
home every day to support education, and we will have practical
materials on our website to support them and social workers Foster
carers were particularly positive about: - Having another foster
carer co-facilitating the training - Having mixed attendance at
training 7
Slide 8
Enfield Direct work with schools We work with 26 schools in 9
boroughs, through our delivery partner, Achievement for All c.170
children looked after in total Achievement for All have adapted
their evidence-based model to target children looked after Each
school has an Achievement Coach who works intensively with the
nominated School Champion There is a whole-school approach and a
focus on engagement of foster carers through structured
conversations 8
Slide 9
STEEP analyses what young people have told us
Slide 10
Enfield Activity We have 10 Education Champions in 5 areas:
Croydon, Islington, Lewisham, Tri-borough, Wandsworth Our Champions
provide peer support to individual carers as well as working with
local authorities to affect change around education Education
Champions 10
Slide 11
Enfield Impact of the Champions Engagement with supervising
social workers through training and attending meetings has led to
some local changes in terms of supervision processes / templates
Foster carers are a resource: - Carers sometimes feel more able to
confide in peers e.g. 1:1 work with carers referred by services -
Well-informed carers can signpost and raise awareness of whats
available in their local authority Education Champions 11
Slide 12
Enfield Education Champions 12
Slide 13
Enfield Know your Virtual School and what they offer Virtual
Schools offer expertise, advice and support. How well do you carers
and social workers know the offer? Does your Virtual School attend
some of the regular support groups locally? Does your Virtual
School sit on your fostering panel? Structures and remits do vary
across local authorities. Virtual School handbook recently
released:
http://reescentre.education.ox.ac.uk/about-us/virtual-schools-
handbook-published/
http://reescentre.education.ox.ac.uk/about-us/virtual-schools-
handbook-published/ 13
Slide 14
Enfield Thu 17 th SeptThe Fostering Network Permanence
Conference www.fostering.net/permanence-conference Sat 19 th
SeptPost-16 opportunities for care-experienced young people
http://www.londonfosteringachievement.org.uk/event/post-16-
opportunities/http://www.londonfosteringachievement.org.uk/event/post-16-
opportunities/ Tue 17 th NovFostering Achievement: Annual
Conference
https://www.fostering.net/training-and-events/conferences-and-
seminars/fostering-network-annual-conference-fostering#.VY0SqhtViko
Events 14
Slide 15
Useful resources Evaluation report from Rees Centre at Oxford
University and Centre for Child and Family Research Standalone
toolkit for schools from Jan 2016 Education half-day training
materials fully updated and will be available for all boroughs to
use from Sept 2015 - Useful questions for PEPs - Self-evaluation
questionnaires for foster carers, supervising social workers and
childrens social workers - Booklets on practical things foster
carers can do at home to boost education
www.londonfosteringachievement.org.uk
Slide 16
Sustainability and legacy of impact Questions?
www.londonfosteringachievement.org.uk Lisa Belletty,
[email protected]