Supporting previously looked after children
It is important to remember, that all children who have been adopted, have positive futures in front of them.
Past experiences can have a lasting impact, especially at school.
Trauma can be experienced in utero.
Young people adopted from birth may face challenges with attachment or have un-resolved trauma that affects their thoughts and behaviours in ways, that the young person may not understand.
Educators play a crucial role in supporting the academic, emotional and social needs of Previously Looked After Children (PLAC).
The Birmingham Virtual School (BVS), offers Trauma Informed Attachment Aware School Settings training (TIAAS) to support the understanding of trauma informed practice, enabling staff to improve their skills to begin building positive relationships with young people.
Education providers must be able to empathise and support the young person through reasonable adjustments and the provision of a designated adult available to them when required.
In February 2018, the Department of Education(DFE), published the statutory guidance for maintained schools and academies.
The guidance explains PLAC as a child, “who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because s/he is the subject of an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person …..or has been adopted from ‘state care’ outside England and Wales if s/he is in care of or accommodated by a public authority, a religious organisation or any other organisation the sole or main purpose of which is to benefit society.”
This guidance directs educators, to give a certain amount of support to PLAC, because, they are more likely to have some sort of disrupted learning, through absences and some may have special educational needs (SEN). These gaps in their learning, may have an impact on their emotional experiences and therefore, may lead to significant barriers in their educational attainment.
