Educational support programme

Many people we work with have been failed by the education system. Family breakdown, abuse, violence, neglect and homelessness all have an impact on educational achievement.

63% of young people moving into our children's homes in England do not have a school place.

Even those who do go to school face enormous difficulties. They have missed out on some of the essential building blocks of education. Many lack basic skills such as literacy, numeracy, social and communication skills.

The consequences of this can last a lifetime. Lack of educational attainment can lead to social exclusion, antisocial behaviour, and the onset of offending.

To give these children a helping hand, we have introduced educational support workers to ensure that they have school places and attend regularly, or have access to alternative educational support.

Some schools are reluctant to accept children in care. Our educational support workers work hard to challenge these exclusions. We appreciate the schools and teachers that accept these children, and we value our partnerships with them.

They are also there to help outside school, in homework clubs and home tuition programmes for children who are waiting for a school place.

How the educational support programme works

• We meet the young people in schools, our offices, and in their current placement, in order to understand their barriers to educational success.
• We offer advice to carers on their legal responsibilities and school policies/procedures.
• We help with applications for school places, and making appeals as necessary.
• We closely monitor Local Education Authorities' (LEAs) obligation to provide education for looked-after children within 20 school days of entering the care system.
• We ensure that tuition is available until a school place is found.
• We ensure that a comprehensive St Christopher's education plan is activated within 72 hours of arrival and that this is regularly reviewed.
• We closely monitor school attendance records. This enables us to deal with any problems.
• We attend planning meetings, reviews, school panels and other agencies relevant to education.
• We provide support for Year 11 school leavers during examinations and in continuing education.
• We ensure that support is available for children who speak English as a second language.
• We help compile CVs and applications to further education.
• We ensure that all agencies involved in the young person's education are working in partnership with common goals.
• We provide in-class support where necessary.
• We support residential childcare workers (RCWs) in promoting the child's education welfare.
• We liaise with schools and RCWs to ensure the child has the necessary uniform and equipment.

If you are interested in commissioning St Christopher’s services, call 0208 780 7800 and ask for Development - or click here