Meet Amy

Amy is PACT’s Specialist Educational Worker. She adopted her son seven years ago through PACT and worked as a primary school teacher for 20 years in different types of schools. Her last job was as Deputy Head. She’s worked for PACT for over six years now – supporting parents and schools to support children to be able to engage in school.

Tell me about your role and the background to it 

Looked after children and previously looked after children can have a very difficult time in the education system. They may have been kept out of childcare settings, moved around or been excluded. It was realised that there was a need within PACT’s services to provide specialised support around navigating the school environment to ensure everyone gets a positive school experience.  

My role sits within the Adoption Support team which provides a wide range of support for families who have adopted through PACT – we’ll support families for as long as they need us at whatever stage they are in. Other support  includes the Strengthening Families Team (specialist and therapeutically trained social workers), Families and Children Therapeutic Support, Adopter Champions  (peer led support) and Adoptee Voices (a group for adopted children to socialise and share their experiences).   

What are the challenges children face with school? 

Most of our children were removed from their families so have experienced trauma at an early age. This manifests itself in a variety of ways in school. If they’ve experienced neglect or abuse, they are often hyper-vigilant – extremely aware of their surroundings. Busy schools and classrooms can be extremely distracting with their sensory needs either over or under stimulated.  

Most of our children will have attachment anxiety and there’s a strong need to ensure the drop off and pick up are handled well by parents and why I recommend not using wraparound care initially. 

How do you work with PACT parents? 

Helping people understand their rights and the responsibilities of their local authority for their child, looked after and previously looked after children are part of a council’s duty of care to support. Usually, I have an initial phone call to get their point of view on the situation and I would also talk to the school. Quite often the next step will be a meeting with all the different people involved. I might go into school for an observation if we are struggling to pinpoint where the triggers might be. My relationship is with the school and the parent, helping them understand what they need to do for the child. Everyone who adopts through PACT has access to our online support hub, CATCH which is a wealth of knowledge and many local authorities have a licence for it too which can be accessed by schools. 

What do you find most challenging about your job? 

Education can be a complex system to navigate with different pathways for different needs. Trauma responses can exhibit in similar ways to neurodiversity traits and, of course, can be both, so trying to work out what the best diagnosis can be can be complex. There is a lack of resources, I’ve never known budgets so tight which means schools and teachers are under a lot of pressure.  

What do you find most rewarding about your job? 

Seeing the children begin to thrive and the subsequent benefit to family life.