When a child comes to live with you, one of the first things you may have to think about is their education. This may mean finding a nursery or school, or supporting them to continue their education in their current school.
Finding a school
If you need to find a school or nursery for your grandchild contact your local authority and ask for a list of schools in your area. You can also find details of local schools by going to the gov.uk website. Get as much information as you can about schools which are near you so you can think about which school might suit your child. You may want to visit the school, read the school’s most recent Ofsted report and its prospectus. In reality though there may not be much choice available if local schools are already full. If you are not offered a place at your preferred school you have a right of appeal.
Disability and special needs
A high proportion of children living in kinship care have a disability, additional needs or specific learning difficulties. All schools have a duty to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of individual children. If your child learns more slowly or in a different way from other children, the school can set different work or try different teaching strategies. If you are concerned about your child’s progress it is important to talk to the school at an early stage. You may want to ask for a statutory assessment for your child to find out what their difficulties are. This is often known as the “statementing process” and may make it easier to get additional support for your child and help secure a place at your preferred school.
Difficulties at school
If a child you are bringing up is experiencing difficulties at school, for example in making friends, or if you suspect they are being bullied you should bring this to the attention of the school. Most schools take bullying seriously and will have policies for tackling the problem. They may also be able to provide counselling or mentoring for the child. You may also want to disclose to the school what has happened in the child’s family that may be affecting them. The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) has information on its website about what to do if your child is being bullied and you feel the school is not taking the problem seriously. ACE also provides information on admissions appeals and special educational needs and has links to other useful websites.
Learning together
You may well find yourself in the situation of having to help your child with their homework. This may mean having to update yourself on the educational curriculum. There are many websites that are able to help you by providing information and examples for all subjects and levels.
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum
If you would like to get some advice on education, you may want to contact one of the organisations below. Alternatively, please contact our confidential advice service.
Useful Organisations
Bullying UK
FamilyLine: 0808 800 2222
Email: help@bullying.co.uk
Website: www.bullying.co.uk
Bullying UK (part of Family Lives) gives advice and support to pupils, parents and teachers on ways of dealing with bullying at school.
Centre for Studies on Inclusive Education (CSIE)
Telephone: 0117 353 3150
Website: www.csie.org.uk
CSIE gives information and advice on the special educational needs of pre-school children and school pupils up to the age of 19. CSIE also supports parents’ campaign groups, families and schools, conducts surveys of LEA practice on integration, helps to link those who are running successful integration schemes with those who wish to set up schemes and produces a range of booklets and information factsheets.
Contact a Family (CAF)
Helpline: 0808 808 3555 Monday – Friday 9.30am-5.00pm
Email: info@cafamily.org.uk
Website: www.cafamily.org.uk
CAF is the only UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children. Additionally, CAF operates a national advice service for special educational needs (SEN).
Coram Children’s Legal Centre
Telephone: 08088 020 008 Monday – Friday 8.00am – 8.00pm
Website: www.childrenslegalcentre.com
Coram Children’s Legal Centre provides free legal information, advice and representation to children, young people, their families, carers and professionals on all aspects of English law and policy affecting children and young people.
Education Otherwise
Helpline: 0845 478 6345
Website: www.education-otherwise.org
Education Otherwise gives support and information to families whose children are being educated out of school or who are considering home-based education. There are local groups, individual contacts and information leaflets. Education Otherwise can also advise a parent whose child has learning difficulties. If asked at an early stage, they can represent a parent against whom the LEA is taking action on the grounds that a pupil is not receiving a suitable education out of school.
Family Lives
Helpline: 0808 800 2222 7.00am – midnight
Website: http://familylives.org.uk
Family Lives offers information on all aspects of family life including children’s education. It runs courses for parents, produces books and leaflets.
Independent Parental Special Education Advice (IPSEA)
Advice Line: 0800 018 4016 Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm, plus Monday to Thursday evenings 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Website: www.ipsea.org.uk
IPSEA is a national charity providing free legally based advice to families who have children with special educational needs.
National Parent Partnership Network
The National Parent Partnership Network offers information, advice and support for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs.
You can ask for details of your local service from your child’s school or Local Authority. You can also find details about their services, and contact details for your local service on their website at: www.parentpartnership.org.uk.
Parents for Inclusion
Helpline: 0800 652 3145 Monday and Wednesdays 10.00am-12.00pm and 1.00pm- 3.00pm
Website: www.parentsforinclusion.org
Parents for inclusion is a self-help organisation giving information, advice and support on education matters to parents of children with special educational needs. It has parent support groups and can help a parent prepare their representations or case for an appeal.
Place2Be
Telephone: 0207 923 5500
Website: www.place2be.org.uk
Place2Be is an integrated school-based service, offering swift access to counselling and other services. Place2Be supports pupils with emotional and behavioural problems who often miss out on receiving adequate help from statutory services.
Young Minds
Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 Monday-Friday 9.30am – 4.00pm
Email: parents@youngminds.org.uk
Website: www.youngminds.org.uk
Young Minds Parents’ Helpline provides a service for any adult worried about the emotional problems, behaviour or mental health of a child or young person.
