Schools, early years and childcare

Standards for foster carers:

• the foster carers service has written policies, procedures and guidelines for staff which demonstrate that a high priority is given to the promotion of education;
• foster carers share responsibility with the care manager for ensuring children and young people of statutory school age have access to education appropriate to their age and ability;
• regular school attendance is promoted and positive steps are taken to achieve educational continuity for each child or young person;
• foster parents liase closely with the school through the designated teacher;
• foster parents have a copy of the child or young person's education plan and will receive advice from the Local Authority (LA) as to how to best promote educational progress;
• awareness training has been made available to foster parents, as well as advice and information from the LA concerning a wide variety of educational matters;
• foster parents encourage regular school attendance and good behaviour in school;
• foster parents actively promote educational progress within the home;
• the home is well equipped with appropriate educational resources and materials that will be financed by the local council;
• children and young people are encouraged to study and the foster carer takes a close and supportive role in their educational progress.

Fostering information line (www.fostering.org.uk/information) - a useful site for those already fostering and those contemplating becoming foster carers.

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