Learn the child

Children and young people in care do less well than their peers at all stages of education, primarily due to their experiences of separation, loss and trauma. They achieve fewer passes, are nine times more likely to have a statement of special educational need and 13 times more likely to be permanently excluded from school. Their underachievement progressively worsens as they get older.

What can we do to address this persistent problem? How can we help traumatised children to learn? The greatest difficulty in the education of looked after children – as identified by teachers – is the behaviour of the children themselves.

This resource pack has been produced with the input of many foster carers, social workers and teachers and will help address these behavioural issues. Looking at the long-term effects of trauma in childhood and how this can affect learning, it explains how, by giving attention to their special physiological, emotional and psychological needs, traumatised children can be helped to fully benefit from their life at school.

Who is this book for?

All those working with and caring for looked after children who want to support their learning: teachers, foster carers, adoptive families, social workers and other professionals working with children in different settings.

What you will find in this book

The resource pack consists of a book and a CD-Rom containing a PowerPoint presentation and a set of handouts.

The book is divided into three parts:

• Part 1 sets the context and includes several composite case studies
• Part 2 provides notes to accompany the PowerPoint presentation covering three broad topics: the child, the adults, and what you can do
• Part 3 suggests imaginative ways in which this material can be used

Authors

Kate Cairns is a social worker and social work teacher. With her husband Brian and their three birth children she fostered long term a group of 12 looked after children, all now adult. She has been a trainer/consultant and, with Brian, has written Attachment trauma and resilience.

Chris Stanway has many years’ experience working with children with special educational needs and looked after children in schools.

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