LAC - Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council
The Vale of Glamorgan will provide individual packages to mentor or support the learning needs of pupils, mainly in KS4, but also some in KS2 and KS3. This will include additional private tuition, Drama or dance sessions to raise self-esteem and social skills, mentoring, therapy and alternative training classes or placements for those having difficulties engaging with education. All LAC pupils that are currently in education and training have received laptops and IT software from the LEA.
We will try to incorporate our additional tuition packages with these resources to maximise their benefit. Schools have been informed of these new developments for their LAC pupils and have been encouraged to look closely at the needs of their own LAC and to liaise with foster-carers and SENCOs to provide advice and suggestions about the most suitable literacy/numeracy software.
- Liaison with schools and social workers and dialogues with LAC pupils regarding their education and wellbeing needs
- Interrogation of School Improvement data and schools results on all LAC pupils KS2 to KS4 to identify pupils who were underachieving or needed support
- Development and design of tailor made packages for learning
- Particular focus on year 6 pupils who needed support to cope with transition
- Offers of one to one counselling sessions
- Facilitating educational visits
- Additional after school tuition
- All pupils have been offered revision guides
- For pupils lacking in confidence and self esteem attendance at Stagecoach Drama and Dance classes
- For LAC pupils at risk of exclusion or becoming NEET LSA support to keep them engaged in school or whilst waiting new school placements
- In a few cases of pupils who were excluded or refused to attend (mostly in year 11) alternative curriculum sessions were offered in the local Open Learning Centre Amelia Farm Trust or the local tuition centre
- Benchmarking opportunity more readily available
- Self-evaluation has led to a pupil focus plan for the future with more emphasis on outcomes
- Greater emphasis on preventing exclusions, disengagement and disaffection
- Young people delighted to have had extra support in literacy and numeracy and for external exams
The Children First Team is satisfied with the progress achieved by most pupils in the academic year 2008-9 and wish to retain the new model. The model however needs considerable monitoring and regular changes in the support packages to remain relevant and therefore we need to allocate more time for monitoring. We have identified the need for the LEA to focus on Year 11 pupils who are at risk of becoming or are NEET and the Education Co-ordinator is working closely with colleagues in CYPP and Careers Wales to address the needs of this group. The RAISE grant will be used in conjunction with the LEA’s funding for pre 16 LAC pupils.
Forthcoming Events
Following the success of last year’s Awards Evening we are organising another one this year with nominations from all involved with looked after pupils. Raising the profile of looked after children with Elected Members has been of great benefit as they are now aware of their issues and are supportive of the Children First Team’s efforts. The Education Co-ordinator has inititated a School Council for Looked After children giving them an opportunity to let the council know their issues and views first hand. One member of the LAC School Council is now a member of the Vale of Glamorgan’s Corporate Parenting Panel. A training day for Designated Teacher’s of Looked After Children is being planned for Spring 2010 focusing on supporting looked after children in school. Please address any enquiries to rslade@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
Vale of Glamorgan