Why Adopted Children need and deserve the support of Virtual Schools

Gareth Marr

Virtual School GovernorSpecial School Director

Independent Member Berkshire Adoption Panel Adoptive Parent

• The Children. • The Parents.• The Schools. • Local and National Government.

Promoting the education of looked after children Statutory guidance for local authorities July 2014

What are Virtual Schools required to do now?

What changes on Adoption?

• 0 Age to 7 More lone. In the family

• Age 0 to 7 Taking into care transition

• Age 0 to 7 Moves in care, moves in schools,

• Age 0 to 7 Adoption, SGO etc.

• Then in Family = heal, build attachment, love.

 

 

Adopted Children – The reality

Birth

Trauma, abuse attachment

Alone

Birth

Birth

Trauma, abuse attachment

Alone

Trauma, abuse attachment Alone

Birth Trauma, abuse

attachment Alone

• Then Education

• Age 3 to 4 Pre school, nursery

• Age 5 to 7 Primary KS1, Transition symptoms appear. School vs parent:

• Age 7 to 11 KS2 Transition trauma, symptoms worsen. School sanctions. School vs parent:

• Age 11 to 16+ Secondary KS3 transition trauma, puberty, more symptoms. Increased sanctions/exclusions. School vs parent:

 

 

Adopted Children – The reality

Alone

Trauma, abuse attachment

Alone

Trauma, abuse attachment

Trauma, abuse attachment

Alone

Trauma, abuse attachment

Alone

•Adopters experience pre adoption. Infertility, parenting. •YHAC research ‘Adopter Views of Support’ 02/2015.•Pre – adoption good, post AO not so good. •Isolation, depression, don’t want to ask for help.

Adopted Parents and Carers – the reality

 •1,500 adopters parenting 2,101 children re education•80% said their child needs more support than their peers.•59% said their child is always trying to catch up in school and make up for their early life experiences.•71% said their child's experience of neglect and or abuse in their early life has impacted their ability to cope in school academically. • 75% said it has an impact on their child’s social ability in school.

2014 Survey

Adoptive parents and carers – the reality

• BTAO quotes. • Pupil Premium Plus misspend. • School gates. • Walk of shame.

The need for support – the evidence

2015 Adoption Social survey on ASD•100 parents and 181 children. •27% have ASD compared to 1.1% of the general population.•49% have been adopted for over 5 years, majority placed before age 5.•15% of families had ASD diagnosis (more than one child in each family).•0% placed with an ASD diagnosis.•70% of families reported other medical/mental health conditions diagnosed post AO.

The need for support – the evidence

Beyond the Adoption Order: challenges, interventions and adoption disruption

Research report

April 2014

• Child’s age since Adoption Order. Teenagers 10x more likely.• Age at placement – highest risk + age 4.• Time between adoptive placement and order.

BTAO predictors of adoption disruption

BTAO How are adoptions faring?

BTAO (Wales) 06/2015 ‘Improve support for adopted children in schools. Teachers need to be better informed about adoption, the risks of bullying and to be more aware of the impact of teaching activities which focus on the family.’‘However, several LA managers simply did not respond to our communication, despite multiple emails and telephone messages.’

BTAO Triggers for challenging behaviour

• Developmental changes.• School transitions.• Bullying and friendship difficulties.• School curriculum.

‘Attachment in children and young people who are adopted from care, in care or at high risk of going into care’

“Interventions for children and young people who have been adopted. See Chapter 10, Section 10.3, which presents the recommendations for interventions for promoting attachment in children and young people in care, which cover those adopted from care.”

New draft NICE Guidelines May 2015

Oxford CSE example

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03vdx7t

Adopted Children need and deserve Virtual School support

• School selection and transitions• Personal Education Plans.• Pupil Premium Plus.• School training.