EDUCATION:

Liaison Teacher for Children in Public Care The role of liaison teacher has been in place since 2001. The overall aim of the centrally employed post is to improve the educational outcomes of looked after children. This is achieved by:

 Training designated teachers in schools and informing them through the CLASS REPORT  Training foster carers  Training social workers  Ensuring policies are communicated to all stakeholders (Bridging the GAP)  Chairing and minuting PEP meetings across the country  Managing the dowry fund for looked after children  Managing the 2 Teachers for Looked After Children.  Managing the pool of Looked After Children’s Tutors  Direct work with young people who are out of school  Advocating for young people through the admissions and exclusions process  Signposting services to other professionals  Providing support and advice to other professionals on processes relating to education

Teachers for Children in Public Care There are currently 2 teachers for children in public care. Both are currently part time posts and are for key stages 1+2 and Key stage 3 respectively. Their aim is to further support the academic outcomes of looked after children. One teacher is embedded in the Under 12’s Team; the other in the Adolescent Team.

Many of the teachers’ tasks are similar to those listed above:

 Chairing and minuting Personal Education Planning Meetings  Advising social workers on the education of looked after children  Direct work with children and young people who are out of school  Signposting services to other professionals

Tutors for Children in Public Care A bank of qualified teachers exists that is there to support learning. They may occasionally work with young people during the school day, but usually they will work in the evenings at home with the young person in question. This resource may be used to ensure that young people are adequately prepared for their GCSE examinations, or simply to help them catch up, if they have fallen behind.

Literacy and Numeracy Mentoring Service WEST BERKHSIRE YOUTH OFFENDING TEAM/CHILDREN’S SERVICES Service History

The service began in January 2002, one of 80 nationally funded projects by the Youth Justice Board of England and Wales. Initially, in West Berkshire it targeted young people between the ages of 13- 16 years who had offended. It aimed to provide them with weekly individualised literacy and numeracy mentoring support (from 6-12 months duration) with trained volunteer mentors. The project was based upon voluntary participation for each young person. Over the past four years it has recruited around 30 volunteer mentors and 45 young people (10-17years) from its referral sources. Youngsters have been supported to access basic literacy and numeracy skills and with a range of school subjects to GCSE level. The project subsequently attracted funding (April ’03) from the Children’s Fund to target 10-12 year olds who present “at risk” of offending particularly across the transition from primary to secondary sector schooling. Referrals (up to one quarter of the project’s capacity) are taken from the Family Resource Team (Early Intervention workers). From December 2004, when YJB funding ceased, the project was funded by LEA/YOT/Children’s Fund inputs. Presently it has “service” status with additional funding from Thames Valley Police, Social Services, Vulnerable Children’s Grant, Community Safety and Sovereign Housing. The service is now able to offer some places to Looked After Children (referrals from Liaison Teacher for Children in Public Care) and/or for those who present as “at risk” of being so (referrals from Family Resource Team).

Learning Support Teams The Learning Support Teams are based in Fir Tree Lane. The teams comprise The Special Needs Support Team, the Pre-School Teacher Counsellors and the Sensory Consortium.

The Special Needs Support Team (SNST) works in mainstream schools with children at all stages of the SEN Code of Practice. This is done at the invitation of the school. The team does assessments, plans programmes, helps/trains TAs, delivers training to teachers, teaches individual children and groups and advises on resources. Some schools choose to use the team to work with their statemented children. The team also supports children who are on the waiting list for Language and Literacy Unit places.

Referral to the team is through the schools. Team members are always happy to speak to parents, but referrals must come from the schools in the first place.

There are some specialist teachers within the team. Sandra Macdonald is the advisory teacher for children with Physical Disability and Fine Motor Control difficulties. Ava Menzies is the advisory teacher for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Special Educational Needs Funding: All mainstream schools are resourced to meet the needs of children with SEN (special educational needs) and all schools have responsibilities towards children with SEN under the SEN Code of Practice. Support for children provided by schools can include adaptation of teaching methods and materials, changes to classroom organisation, individual education plans, and, in some cases, small group or individual support. Children who have very severe SEN and who have not made sufficient progress in spite of support provided by the school's resources, may be considered for additional funding by the Local Authority through the SEN Audit or as a result of a statutory assessment leading to a Statement of Special Educational Needs. The SEN Audit is a process designed to avoid the need for statementing of children who have significant SEN but whose needs can be met with support at the level of approximately 11 hours per week. The audit process takes place in the autumn and spring terms. Schools will be advised, usually in October, of the deadline for audit submissions, which is generally near the end of the autumn term. Submissions are then considered in the spring term at audit panels which consist of three Special Needs Coordinators from schools, a SEN officer, an educational psychologist and a learning support teacher. If submissions are succussful, funding is allocated to the school's budget from the following April and ceases when the child reaches the end of the key stage. If it is considered that the child still requires the support, a fresh application has to made when he / she starts the next key stage. Evidence needed for the audit includes details from the school of the child's difficulties and progress, plus information about the support which the school has provided, including at least three individual education plans and their reviews. Schools must also submit evidence from professionals involved with the child including an assessment by an educational psychologist. Audit funding is only provided for children within the second percentile in terms of their attainments and functioning. Normally, only children in National Curriculum years 1,3 and 7 can be entered for the audit. However, because West Berkshire prioritises looked after children, LAC pupils can be entered for the audit regardless of which year group they are in. Some children, who have very severe needs which require a higher level of support than can be provided through the audit, and whose difficulties are likely to be long term and permanent, may not be suitable for audit funding and may require a Statement of Special Educational Needs instead. A statutory assessment can be initiated either by the child's school making a formal request to the Local Authority or by the child's parent or someone with parental responsibility (which could be the social worker) making such a request. The Authority is obliged to consider all such requests and make a decision within 6 weeks. If the request is refused, the parent has a right of appeal to the SEN Tribunal. If an assessment is carried out, a Statement (or Note in Lieu of a Statement) will be issued within 18 weeks of the process being initiated. Provision will usually take the form of additional support in the child's local mainstream school, but in some cases children will be placed in specially resourced mainstream schools or special schools, subject to the agreement of parents.

Parent Partnership Parent Partnership provides a flexible service to parents and carers to enable them to play a more active and informed role in their child's education by providing information, support and advice. we do this by:-

. Listening to their concerns . Helping parents / carers develop positive relationships with school, LEA officers and other agencies . Supporting parents at meetings or helping them prepare . Explaining the process of assessment and statementing and annual reviews and supporting them through these processes . Helping parents / carers understand their legal rights . Providing information and advice about appeals (occasionally may be able to provide support) . Supporting and providing information to parents/carers of excluded children

This can be done by:-

. Letter . Over the phone . Arranging a home visit at a time convenient to them . Providing support in person through our Independent Parental Supporters . Empowering them as parents/carers . Accessing information for you . Signposting to other organisations

Team Members are:-

Elaine English - Co-ordinator Irene Hill - Support Worker Melissa Hutchins - Support Assistant

24hr answerphone service - 01635 519779 The Dowry Fund The dowry fund (approximately £20,000 per annum) is an annual grant that is used in West Berkshire to support the education and inclusion of looked after children. This money can be requested through a young person’s Personal Education Planning Meeting and is normally used for either home tuition or teaching assistant time in school. Alternative uses will always be considered, e.g. dictionaries, software, revision guides, etc.

LINE by LINE Reading Challenge To support reading throughout Key Stages 1 and 2, the LINE by LINE challenge attempts to promote reading for pleasure. Run jointly with West Berkshire’s Library Service, the challenge requires children to record their reading in ‘passport’ style booklets. After completing the first passport (4 books) children receive a bronze certificate and a voucher worth £5. In order to complete the silver and gold certificates, children have to read 8 and 12 books respectively. Completion of these certificates ensures rewards of £10 and £15 respectively.

Software Library Thanks to the generosity of a number of software manufacturers, we have been given permission to set up a software library full of educational games that span the age and ability range. There are even games for pre-school children.

Access to the software library is through the Family Placement Team.

CHILDREN’S SERVICES

Family Resource Team The Family Resource Team, based in Newbury, provides families with support to help them cope with the stress of 21st century family life. We offer help to get on better as a family, to manage anger in better ways - parents' anger and children's anger – and with other problems that affect families lives - like offending, truanting, substance misuse, domestic violence, low self esteem and bullying.

We can provide this support to looked after children, to their foster families and to their own families particularly where this will help other children in the family or support looked after children’s return home.

We aim to give families support and encouragement to achieve their goals.

We aim to � Listen to people we work with, to build on strengths and work in a non-judgemental way. � Help people identify realistic short-term goals that will make a long-term difference to their life together. � Help people with the techniques, support and encouragement to achieve their goals. � Run short courses for families who prefer learning as part of a group, and to work flexibly to meet needs.

All our referrals need to come from one of the professionals who know your family. The referrer will need to share the referral with you - and note down what difference you think our work could make. The Edge – Responding to Substance Misusers in West Berkshire The Edge offers information, advice and support to parents and carers of young people with drug and alcohol issues.

Young people often become secretive or private as a way of trying to establish their independence. It’s often simply the way they choose to have some sort of life that is separate and by trying out what it is like to be an adult. When this happens many parents may assume it’s because they have something to hide, or they maybe using drugs.

Who are we? We are a friendly and dynamic team working across the whole of West Berkshire. We work with under 18’s, their families/carers and friends who are affected by drugs or alcohol, and our service is non-judgemental and confidential. We offer advice and information in a down to earth way. We also have links with other services and agencies, in order to give the best service we can for our young people and their families.

What do we offer?  Information, Support and Advice  Confidential & non judgemental approach  Fast track to medical interventions  Alternative Therapies  Counselling  Group work  Street work  Family Counselling  Schools work  Parent Training  Family mediation  Drop in  Telephone & email support

What can you do? You don’t have to deal with this alone! The Edge, Waterside Youth & Community Centre, Northbrook Street, Newbury, Berks, RG14 1DS Telephone: 01635 582002

Youth Offending Team The West Berkshire Youth Offending Team is a multi-agency team working with young people aged 10-17 years inclusive who have offended. The team includes two social workers, a probation officer, a police officer, a health worker, psychologist, youth worker, teacher and education welfare officer.

The team assesses risk factors associated with offending and works to address those factors, including supporting access to education, linking with youth and leisure activities, addressing mental health needs and substance misuse difficulties.

In addition, the team works to support parents, and links with victims of the crimes committed to offer the opportunity for the young person to repair the harm.

The YOT prioritises services to Looked After Children, working closely with Children's Services, when a LAC is involved in the criminal justice system. Whilst the YOT does not normally get involved with young people who receive a police reprimand, they will offer the full range of their services if the young person is a looked after child.

HEALTH:

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Recognising that Looked After Children are often traumatised by life events and then bereaved through separation from their families, our CAMHS team prioritises these referrals as indicated in NSF and Every Child Matters. We have a "fast track" referral process for all children and young people who need an urgent specialist mental health assessment. As we must work in tandem with other agencies, we may first request a consultation meeting with the referrer to clarify our remit.

What is our remit? All senior members of our team can offer tier 3/4 mental health assessments that guide the optimal treatment plan. This could include family therapy with birth, foster or adoptive families and individual therapy such as psychoanalytic therapy, art therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy. Alternatively, it may be moiré useful to provide consultation or supervision to carers and other professionals already involved with the child or family. We follow a multi-systemic approach as far as our resources will allow, joining with teachers, education welfare officers, social workers, carers, GP's, health visitors, school nurses and YOT workers in supporting theses vulnerable children and young people.

Designated Nurse for Looked After Children Data Collection ~ Medical history, e.g. immunisations, dental & opthalmic care, mental health, etc. A record is kept of all referrals to other agencies, e.g. Connect, paediatrician. Training ~ Health Visitors and School Nurses receive training around health care issues for LAC. ~ Adoptive parents have received training about health needs of children. ~ Future training needs might include foster carers, social workers and educational professionals (school staff, LA workers). Support for individual LAC ~ All LAC receive contact details following a health assessment. They are then able to make contact at any time. Advocacy ~ Fast tracking individual cases when required, e.g. when by moving area the child or young person would go back to the bottom of a waiting list. Networking with other designated nurses from other Health Authorities ~ Member of Southern Region LAC Nurses Network. This meets quarterly and acts as a forum for discussion of health issues and new Government initiatives. ~ Work with designated nurses in Reading and Wokingham to ensure that policies are consistent across the three Primary Care Trusts (West of Berkshire). Communication ~ Working closely with designated nurses from other authorities ensures that children and young people's health needs are addressed effectively.

CULTURE and YOUTH

Designated Youth Worker for Looked After Children Aims The aim of my role is to provide information about extra curricular activities to the Young Person, Families, Social Services, Children’s Services and any other related service who might find this information useful. Ultimately, it is an aim to actually involve Young People in some form of activity that they wish to take part in and which will have a positive impact on their lives in some way and that can be sustained. My role really involves creating a supportive bridge between Social Services and the Youth Services, allowing Young People the same opportunities as any other Young Person and gaining an entry into a huge Service which provides a whole range of activities. For Foster Carers my role aims to support them in terms of allowing them some respite time and enabling them to get their Young Person involved in something positive in their spare time.

Processes, Referral Routes & Examples I gain contact with Young people through a variety of routes:

. PEP meetings – extra curricular activities are included in the PEP meeting. My attendance at PEP meetings enables me to discuss with the Young Person their wishes regarding activities. I am then able to access funding through the dowry fund. . Fun Days – holiday time provides an excellent opportunity to get young people and their families together. Outings are organised as are family fun days. Everything from ice-skating to football is offered. . Youth Group for looked after children – this Thursday night group has given the opportunity for young people across the area to meet in a relaxed and friendly environment.

My service is also open to Young People and Carers outside of the West Berkshire area I may be required to find out useful information about activities in different parts of the country.

14:21 TIME to TALK: 14:21 Time to talk is the Youth Counselling Agency for West Berkshire, offering free and confidential one to one counselling for young people aged 11-25. Clients can request appointments by phoning the client line (01635 581421) or by visiting the website: www.14-21timetotalk.freeserve.co.uk

14-21 is based in the Town Hall in the Market PLACE, Newbury. It is open on Monday to Friday from 4 to 8pm. They also have counsellors placed in most secondary schools in West Berkshire and counsellors in 3 out of 4 youth centres. For further information, please contact Nicola Maskell (co- ordinator), or Alex Osterritter (administrator) on 01635 552768.