Education Support

Meet PACT’s Special Education Worker, Amy Thompson

About me

Hello! My name is Amy and I am PACT’s education lead. Our education service is available to all of our PACT families regardless of what stage of the adoption process they may be in.

I am an adoptive parent and also an experienced education professional. I have taught for nearly 20 years in a range of settings and locations and prior to adopting, I was a deputy headteacher. Therefore, I understand both the emotional challenges that children face within schools as well as the demands on the schools and their staff.

How I can help

I can offer support, advice and training to any type of school and its professionals who have a PACT adoptive child on roll. I can work alongside schools to improve their understanding of developmental trauma and how this might affect a child’s behaviour within the classroom setting.

I am also able to offer information and support to families when embarking on the admissions application process, with some helpful tips on finding the right school.

My work may include: 

  • Phone conversations with the school
  • Meetings with the class teacher or specialist teachers within each unique school setting
  • A range of different INSET training opportunities for all school professionals 
  • Provision of resources on our online Children And Trauma Community Hub and signposting to further support and/or other services
  • Tailor-made provision for the school to be able to further support adopted children – for example, helping a school to devise an individualised curriculum for a specific adopted child

How my work fits into PACT

From time to time this role may mean working in conjunction with other adoption support services within PACT. I may work closely with, or alongside, our Family and Children Therapeutic Support (FACTS) service; our Strengthening Families Team and/or our Adopter Champions Team. I will also be posting education related information for adopters, schools and professionals on the Hub for everyone to access. 

The aim of this holistic approach is to try to ensure that families receive a ‘wrap around service’ so that their child/ren feel happy and safe going to school, and ultimately achieve within their educational setting. This approach aims to help each child, whenever possible, to successfully access the school curriculum and better manage their school routine. 

Get in touch

If you have any questions or would like to seek some further information, advice and/or support for your child/ren’s school/s please do get in touch by emailing me at adoptionsupport@pactcharity.org 

My usual working days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays but this is flexible so I will aim to respond to any enquiries within three days. I am really looking forward to working with you. 

Our thanks

The Special Education Worker role was made possible by funding from: 

People’s Postcode Lottery 

British and Foreign School Society