The Fostering Network

Scottish higher education pledge applauded

Sara Lurie, director of The Fostering Network Scotland, said: ‘Scotland is taking a progressive stance when it comes to the higher education of care experienced young people, and we must say that this is a positive step in the right direction.

‘While over time more must be done to narrow the inequality gap in education between children in care and their peers at all levels of education, giving those children and young people a tangible and realistic goal to aim for will inspire many to go on to higher education.

Your education questions answered - pt 3

Today we're discussing Personal Education Plans, pupil premium plus and special educational needs.

Your education questions answered - pt 2

Today we're discussing applying to school, who makes the decision, admission priority, and transition to secondary school.

Hypervigilance

Most of us have looked after a child who is continually on guard and on the look out for danger. Even when you think they are relaxed watching television or reading, they are suddenly out of their chair, eyes wide and on the alert. Sometimes as a result of a slight noise, while at other times you may have heard nothing. They are agitated, may sweat, and their breath comes fast and shallow. If you were to take their pulse it would be racing. This can be as a result of what is known as hypervigilance.

Panel Vision

Today we had our last information gathering session with Stef, our assessor. Next week she’ll have the first draft of the Form F for us to look at and comment on. It feels like we’re coming to the end of something, but I know that it is in fact the start line we’re approaching. There is a huge blank canvas stretching before us and I am at once excited and terrified.

Activities for kinship foster carers and foster carers in Northern Ireland

We are offering kinship foster carers from each of the Health and Social Care Trusts the opportunity to participate in a one night residential with a focus on improving health and well-being in a relaxed environment. Attendees will also have the opportunity to gain an OCN Level 1 Award in Healthy Living.

Amended special guardianship regulations in England welcomed

The changes in The Special Guardianship (Amendment) Regulations 2016 include a strengthening of the assessment of prospective special guardians to ensure that they can fully meet the needs of the child through until adulthood.

Keep connected contact campaign launched with new research

The report, Keep Connected: Maintaining Relationships When Moving On, part of the charity’s campaign of the same name, spoke to over 175 children and young people, and over 1,100 foster carers.

A survey of young people showed:

Welsh Government strategy for educational attainment welcomed

The strategy will support foster carers to better understand how the education system works, and to feel better equipped to engage, support, and educationally challenge the children young people in their care. It also calls for foster carers to be viewed as an equal part of the team around the child to ensure they are able to support the ambitions and aspirations of the children in their care.

The strategy is supported by a detailed action plan and the Welsh Government will monitor delivery against the plan on an annual basis.

Nominations open for fostering awards in Northern Ireland

The prestigious event will take place in the Hilton Hotel, Belfast on Friday 20 May 2016. Each year these awards recognise and celebrate the contribution individual foster carers and kinship foster carers make towards the lives of children in foster care.

Knockout fundraising: 19-year-old Tish takes to the boxing ring for fostering families