Children living in kinship care generally experience better outcomes than those in other forms of non-parental care. However, their progress still tends to lag behind peers who have had no involvement with social services.
The exceptional circumstances that lead to children being unable to live with their birth parents are often linked to adverse childhood experiences, which can create barriers to learning. While these children are now in safe and loving homes, it is important to recognise that past experiences can have a lasting impact, particularly in the school environment.
Teachers and schools play a crucial role in meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of children in kinship care.
Although Leicestershire Virtual School’s strategic role does not involve direct intervention with kinship children or their carers, we are actively working with schools and professionals to deepen understanding of the needs of children in all types of kinship arrangements, including informal placements.
This short poem from the Kinship charity highlights the importance of kinship carers #ValueOurLove Poem (YouTube). We are proud to be part of supporting these families and the amazing schools that their children go to.
How schools should support children in kinship care
Designated Teachers
All schools have a Designated Teacher for Looked-After and Previously Looked-After Children. This teacher will now also have responsibility for young people in kinship care and they should be your main point of contact about issues relating to your kinship child’s education.
They will be able to support staff in their understanding around any issues the children may have, such as the emotional, psychological and social effects of loss and separation (attachment awareness) from birth families and how children may have difficulties in building relationship of trust with adults because of their experiences.
They will also have a good understanding of the impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences and knowledge of training and strategies to help staff support children repair from these experiences.
Pupil Premium Plus (PPP)
PPP is funding which is paid to schools to promote the education of pupils who are or have been Previously Looked-After. It is not a personal budget for individual pupils, but the school must be able to show how they are spending the funding effectively.
If a child was Previously Looked-After by a local authority and left care through a Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangements Order, the parent/guardian will need to self-declare the child’s eligibility for PPP by providing the school with proof of the child’s status. The school will record this on the autumn census, which takes place in October.
Early Years Pupil Premium
A child may be entitled to Early Years Pupil Premium if they have left care in England or Wales through a Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangements Order. This funding is paid directly to the childcare provider.
Support to improve children's behaviour
A child or young person in kinship care may have past experiences that continue to impact on their behaviour. This should be recognised by the school and some degree of flexibility should be exercised (for example within their behaviour policy).
The school should look to support the child to improve their behaviour by incorporating trauma-informed, attachment-aware practices and relational approaches, with relevant training if necessary.
All approaches should be exhausted to avoid exclusion becoming necessary. Where a Previously Looked-After Child is at risk of exclusion, the designated teacher should talk to the child’s carers and possibly ask the advice of the Virtual School.
Communication between school and carers
Good communication is essential between kinship carers and schools. At the start of term, it should be agreed who the main point of contact is (e.g. designated teacher, form tutor, or a member of the pastoral team) and how you will communicate (e.g. email, text, phone call).
Your child should have key person or trusted adult in school – a member of staff they could go to if they experience any sort of difficulty.
School should signpost carers for additional support when needed, for example The Kinship Care Charity, LCC Kinship Team etc. Encourage families to reach out to their local Kinship Support Group.
Education meetings
We advise schools to hold regular education meetings for any children living in a kinship arrangement within their school.
The meetings are invaluable in terms of finding out the needs of the child, so that you can plan and support them in the most effective way.
By understanding how they present at home, at school and what additional challenges they may face allows education settings to support them to reach their full potential. Understanding the children living in kinship care cohort can then inform the planning around the school’s pupil premium strategy, staff training and school development plans.
Advice for Kinship Carers
Leicestershire Virtual School are able to offer direct advice to carers with children under formal kinship arrangements only – those with a Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Order.
We are also able to advise schools and education settings regarding children with formal kinship arrangements, providing you have carers consent.
Whilst we are unable to offer advice for ‘informal’ kinship arrangements, carers can contact The Kinship Care Charity for advice. We are also able to speak to schools for general cohort discussions, so whilst we would be unable to speak about an individual child, we will be able to signpost the school to resources, training and other organisations that could support children living in informal kinship arrangements.