The CLA-friendly Approach for the Entire School

In this section, we will look at all the factors required to make a school 'CLA Friendly.' In compiling this, we looked not just at what the study says but also at the experiences of some of the most competent practitioners in the area. As a result, the ideas and proposals given are not just theories but real tactics that we know work in busy classrooms.

Team discussing the case
Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash

The pyramid graphic depicts the key building components for schools at three levels, which will be explored in three different sections:

  1. The entire educational system and practice - this section.
  2. Preventative measures: what should be done for each CLA.
  3. Responsive ways to assist CLAs who are facing additional problems.

Together, this will result in CLA-friendly schools. We value that you may not have all the different 'blocks' in place at this point, but we hope it provides you with a strategy to work towards creating many of these.

The Whole School CLA Friendly Approach

Training and Awareness for All Staff

A competent and talented staff team is at the core of any effective, caring, and supporting school. A school is only as good as the individuals who manage it. As a result, for a school to become a successful CLA school, all of its adults must get training appropriate for their degree of involvement with persons. To varying degrees, adults must be aware of some of the elements contained within this resource. This view is confirmed by most of the recent federal and national level instructions. For example, the NICE Guidance on Attachment (2015) recommends:

"....training seminars for teachers of all levels on:

It is crucial to emphasize that this sort of training might also be beneficial in meeting the requirements of a diverse variety of vulnerable students, including Children in Need, post-adoption children, children from families whose parents have mental health or addiction issues, and pupils with ALN. Ideally, three levels of training should be offered in all schools:

Level One

Basic understanding of the needs of all CLA, the trauma they may have suffered, and how to properly manage vulnerable children and young people when they come into touch with them at school.

Level Two

In-depth training for all instructors who have direct responsibility for CLA.

Level Three

In-depth training for any senior leaders with CLA duties designated CLA teachers and support personnel who will be working closely with particular children and young people.

Support workers within the LA, such as your EP or LAC coordinator, would be pleased to advise and assist you with this.

The Designated Cla Teacher

The assigned teacher for CLA plays a critical role in ensuring a CLA's good wellness and joyful experiences as a learner in their school. Their job is multifaceted, with several critical roles. Among these are:

and also:

Governor Support

School governing bodies are expected to play an active role in supporting their CLA. The following are some ideas about how to do this:

School policy for looked after children: Governing boards, in collaboration with the headmaster, should develop the school's policy for looked after children and review its implementation on a regular basis. The policy must meet the following criteria:

At the Very Least, the Policy Should Include:

Staff Wellbeing

The daily obstacles for any teacher or support assistant are significant, regardless of whether they work in a "dream" school with ideal, motivated, and able kids or a "failed" school with a large percentage of children who show severe behavioral issues. Positive employee wellness is widely recognized as a critical contributor to a school's success. Students are happier, more settled, less disruptive, and achieve greater achievements in schools where this is a focus and the emotional atmosphere is dynamic. Clearly, this must be one of the most critical building components for a CLA-friendly school. Factors that can aid with promotion include:

Tracking and Monitoring Systems

The significance of closely monitoring student performance and outcomes is widely established and documented. Therefore, the goal of measuring and monitoring CLA achievement at the school level is as follows:

The type of data that must be used for CLA is the same as for other pupils. Still, the distinction is that the whole picture must be determined, updated, and evaluated much more often to prioritize early action.

Effective Use of Pdg Lac and Other Sources of Additional Funding

The Welsh Government is dedicated to improving CLA results. To assist schools and local governments in attempting to attain this aim, money has been set aside, particularly for this purpose. The Pupil Deprivation Grant (PDG) is their primary mechanism of doing this. The grant's mechanism has changed from year to year, with funds going directly to LAs, schools, or, more recently, Education Consortiums. It was originally based on the number of children aged 4-15 years who were cared after as determined by Social Services SSDA data from the preceding year. However, allocations vary by area and have lately included CLA, adopted children, SGOs and CAOs (Child Arrangement Orders), and RO (Residency Orders).

This implies that schools have resources to devote to helping the CLA in their care, which will assist to fund many of the techniques and recognized examples of excellent practice advocated in this article. A CLA Friendly schools would ensure targeted and planned investment in strategic provision enhancement and individual CLA connected to agreed-upon PEP objectives. It is expected to include preventative interventions such as improving literacy and numeracy outcomes, fostering friendship development, enhancing well-being relationships, and encouraging participation in positive activities, as well as responsive interventions such as introducing a key adult.

The Sutton Trust-Education Endowment Foundation Teaching and Learning Toolkit is a resource that is now frequently utilized by schools when deciding how to serve disadvantaged pupils best, offering highly important information regarding what is (or isn't) the most effective and value for money.

Cla Friendly Approaches to Admission, Attendance, and Exclusions

All pupils should attend school on a regular and consistent basis. Minimal lengths of absence should only be permitted in true or extraordinary situations. However, the data for CLA suggests that this does not always applicable for reasons beyond their control. Therefore, all schools must implement CLA-friendly rules on timely admissions, attendance, and exclusions to address this.

Admissions

Too frequently, CLA spend lengthy times following a placement change waiting for a new school to consent to their admission, which adds to the obstacles and problems a CLA has at a very painful time. This is in violation of existing standards since CLA and previously looked after children should be listed first in the oversubscription criterion for all schools when applications for admission exceed the school's admission number. According to the School Admissions and School Admissions Appeals Code (2013), it is critical that children who do not have a school place be provided one as soon as possible.

Once a CLA is assigned a seat, schools, particularly the Designated Teacher and the CLA governor, should implement procedures to ensure that the CLA is actively welcomed into the school.

The school must keep in mind that the youngster may have arrived following an extraordinarily distressing and traumatic incident. They may have left behind a strong network of close friends and teachers with whom they had solid ties. As a result, they will probably face disruptions in their schoolwork and opportunities at the secondary level.

Preparing for CLA in Schools - What Can Work in Schools?

Exclusions

The current Welsh advice indicates that, unless in the most challenging situations, schools should avoid excluding CLA as much as possible. If the exclusion is deemed a possibility, the Head Teacher must notify the LAC Education Coordinator for their LA as soon as possible so that everything necessary may be done to avoid exclusion. The LAC Education Coordinator will also ensure that the foster carer and social worker understand their roles and duties and where to go for assistance and support. The Coordinator may also be able to collaborate with the school, evaluate any additional evaluation, and provide assistance to help address the difficulties more positively and productively than exclusion. Finally, if exclusion is inevitable, they may quickly consider suitable actions.

Attendance

Because high levels of attendance are critical, a CLA Friendly school will ensure that within any attendance rules and practices in place at school, CLA are a recognized vulnerable group, with an emphasis on an early and prompt reaction to address any reduction in attendance.