Adoption charity creates new education role to meet the needs of adopted children in school
In an effort to meet the unique needs of adopted children in schools, Parents And Children Together (PACT) has recruited an education lead to deliver a new package of support services.
Amy Thompson, a former deputy headteacher and adoptive parent, has joined PACT as its new Special Education Worker. She will offer support, advice and training to any school with a PACT adoptive child on roll, as well as working with PACT’s adoptive families to provide guidance on finding the right school and undertaking the admissions process.
The new education lead will work alongside schools to improve their understanding of developmental trauma and how this might affect a child’s behaviour within the classroom setting.
The post has been made possible thanks to funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery and the British and Foreign School Society, which have covered the cost of the service for two years.
Amy said, “The aim of this holistic approach is to try to ensure that families receive a wrap around service so that their child feels happy and safe going to school, and ultimately achieves within their educational setting.”
Lorna Hunt, Adoption Service Director at PACT, said “Adopted children often have a traumatic start in life and this can have a huge impact on their learning and behaviour at school. Education and schooling is without doubt the number one issue that our families tell us they need support with.”
Jan Fishwick, Chief Executive of PACT, said “Having this specialist role at PACT adds a much needed level of expertise to our adoption support services.”
Education support will now be available to all PACT families in addition to the other specialist support services already on offer. When adopters choose to adopt through PACT, they have access to PACT’s Strengthening Families Team of therapeutically-trained social workers, their Family and Children Therapeutic Support (FACTS) service for children who have experienced trauma, and The Adopter Hub, an online support network for adoptive parents, practitioners and educational professionals.
To find out more about adopting with PACT see www.pactcharity.org/adoption where you can download a brief guide to adoption, read the stories of people who have adopted with PACT and find out about PACT’s upcoming adoption information events.
For more information please call 0300 456 4800 or email enquiries@pactcharity.org
