Helping children meet their educational potential
We want all children to experience success and to do the best they can. A good education can be the key to improving everyone’s chances in life. Children in care can be disadvantaged as they often have their education disrupted by placement changes. They may not have had the opportunity to reach their full potential. They may have little sense of their abilities and will need encouragement to develop their self-esteem.
Educational stability supports children’s social and emotional wellbeing and their ability to form healthy attachments with their peers.
You can help children by
- Contributing to the development of education support plans
- Carrying out actions assigned to you in education support plans
- Supporting children to attend school every day unless there is valid reason not to
- Supporting children to complete homework
- Expressing high expectations
- Talking to children about further education options and recognising their achievements
- Helping children research, plan and enrol in continued training or employment once compulsory education is finished
- Supporting children to engage in out of school activities
- Providing a suitable place and equipment for children to study
- Keeping records of children’s educational achievements and difficulties
- Talking to your care team if you are concerned about children disengaging, or being at risk of disengaging, in education or training
- Reading with children
- Watching and discussing documentaries with children
- Involving children's families, who can also express pride and give support to children’s education
- Celebrating educational achievements, even, and especially, small ones
There may be additional supports available in your state or territory, such as scholarships and payments to support older children completing high school or who are enrolled in tertiary education. Ask your care team for more information.
Individual Education Plans/Individual Learning Plans
Schools must develop an IEP/ILP for children in out of home care. The purpose of these plans is to describe how to meet the education needs of the child. You have an important role contributing to the development of the plan and carrying out any actions assigned to you to assist the child to meet their education goals.
Talk to your care team for more information.
Reach out to the team at Learning Without Barriers if you need extra support.