Every child deserves to have an education. But delivering this equally doesn’t necessarily mean that every child will be able to achieve the same outcomes. Sometimes a young person may need to have information given to them in a slightly different way so that it’s accessible to their needs. Or perhaps they need considerations put in place, such as movement breaks, so that they can maintain concentration for longer periods.
Fostering a child who has additional needs, such as autism or ADHD, means getting them the help that they need when they might not be able to speak up for themselves. The good thing is that by communicating with your foster child’s school, you can get them this assistance so that they can thrive in an educational setting.
We’ve put together a comprehensive list of everything you need to know about supporting a child with additional needs at school so that you can do what you do best – make a difference in your young person’s life.
Being an advocate for your foster child
As their foster carer, the most important thing to bear in mind is that you’ll need to be an advocate for your foster child. You can ensure that authority figures listen to your concerns as an adult speaking up on the young person’s behalf, especially if you’ve got the right local support to go to for help.
As a long-term foster parent, you’ll know your foster child better than anyone else. You’ve seen them grow in your care, and you’re able to recognise when they display emotions or behaviour that means they need extra support. Being there for them and advocating on their behalf will be a crucial part of your fostering journey, whether they’re with you for several years or for a few days or weeks.
Early identification will be the key to accessing support for your foster child. Getting them a diagnosis for specific conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia can ensure that they’re better able to access the support they need as they grow older.
Signs that your foster child could have additional needs
- Sensitivity with sensory experiences, such as loud noises, light, or textures
- They struggle to understand social cues or interactions
- They show difficulty with understanding instructions and communicating
- Concentration can be an issue
- They might struggle with managing their emotions
- Any delays in movement, speech, or other developmental milestones
Contact your school’s SENCO for support
The first thing that you’ll need to do to get your foster child the help they need in their learning environment is to contact the school’s SENCO. They’ll be able to advise you on what help your foster child is entitled to, depending on their needs, and make sure that this is in place throughout their time in school. They can also advise you on how to get a diagnosis for your foster child if you think they’ve got a neurodiverse condition such as ADHD, dyslexia, or autism.
Getting them a diagnosis can be helpful throughout their time at school, depending on if the SENCO feels this would be in your foster child’s best interests. It’s worth bearing in mind that the waiting lists for some conditions such as autism and ADHD can take a long time to get through. Your SENCO can help identify what kind of support your foster child will need throughout their time in education, whether that’s literacy or numeracy interventions, having a scribe, or extra time in exams.
If you ever have any concerns about your foster child’s learning and whether they’re getting the help they need from various teachers, your SENCO will be your first port of call.
What is a SENCO?
A Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is a teacher in your foster child’s school. They’re responsible for delivering the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) policy across the whole school and ensuring that every child’s Individual Support Plan (ISP) is up to date.
Equivalent roles across the UK
- Scotland – Additional Support Needs teacher (ASN)
- Wales – Additional Learning Needs Coordinator (ALNCO)
What is an LSA?
A Learning Support Assistant (LSA) is someone who will work alongside the teacher, giving extra help to pupils who need it in the classroom. This could be one LSA helping a variety of children in the classroom if there are multiple individuals who need their support, or if your child has an EHC plan, then they could work one-to-one with them.
What is an HTLA?
A Higher Teacher Learning Assistant (HTLA) is similar to an LSA, but they have more qualifications in their field and can help with more in-depth support. An HTLA could help your foster child with literacy or numeracy interventions if they need them.
Getting a diagnosis for additional learning needs
While your SENCO can help you get a diagnosis for learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or dyspraxia, getting a diagnosis for ADHD or autism will need to be done through your foster child’s GP. These are medically diagnosed conditions that will require assessment from the NHS. Your child’s health visitor or school can also refer them for an assessment, and in England you can choose which NHS team completes the testing.
Getting your child an EHC plan
An Education, Health, and Care plan (EHC or EHCP) is a legally binding document that sets out what support needs to be put in place for your foster child. The EHC plan identifies the specific needs that your foster child has, and this can last until they’re up to 25 years of age if they remain in education. It can also outline what additional needs require to be met if your child’s school isn’t currently able to provide them.
It’s down to the local authority to decide if your foster child requires an EHCP and if this is in their best interests. To get an EHCP, you’d need to apply to your local authority to request an assessment for your child. You can either do this yourself or ask your child’s SENCO, doctor, or health visitor to apply on your behalf.
If an assessment is carried out – which will involve speaking to yourself, your foster child, and various other people who know them, including social workers and teachers – you’ll get a draft copy of the EHCP sent to you by the local authority.
Alternatives to the EHC plan in other parts of the UK
- Scotland – Coordinated Support Plan (CSP)
- Wales – Individual Development Plan (IDP)
- Northen Ireland – Statement of Special Educational Needs
What support is available in schools for children with additional learning needs?
With the right support in place, each child can flourish in a school setting. This support is about making their learning more accessible so that they’re able to achieve positive outcomes. Just because they’ve got additional needs, it doesn’t mean they need to be left behind in the classroom.
Below are just a few of the solutions that could be available to your foster child depending on their needs. Your SENCO will be able to advise you on what would benefit them in the classroom.
ADHD
- Movement breaks – giving a child the freedom to get up and move or do breathing exercises when they need to will get rid of any pent-up energy and can help improve their concentration.
- Fidget toys – having something to occupy their hands can mean a child is less likely to disturb the learning of others in class, as they have something to keep their minds busy.
- Splitting up tasks – working on individual tasks for 10 to 15 minutes before having a break and then coming back to them can assist with short attention spans.
- Give clear and simple instructions – rather than giving a child a list with several different things they need to do, giving them one clear instruction at a time can help keep them focused.
- Seating – for some ADHD learners, placing them towards the front of the classroom and away from windows or distracting displays can be beneficial.
- LSA assistance – depending on their specific needs, your foster child could be entitled to have help from an LSA to keep them focused and on task during lessons.
Dyslexia
- Coloured overlay tools – giving a child with dyslexia this tool can help them to read better, as for some individuals black text on a white background can be harder to see clearly.
- Handouts – for some dyslexics, having handouts with key information on them can make their learning more accessible.
- Alternative methods of recording – giving a foster child access to alternative methods of recording, such as a laptop or a scribe, can benefit them, especially in secondary school.
- LSA assistance – your foster child could be entitled to one-to-one support from an LSA to help them throughout lessons.
Autism
- Sensory adjustments – making sensory adjustments to your foster child’s surroundings in the classroom can make their learning environment less triggering. This can include softer lighting, a designated quiet area, or sensory breaks.
- Structured routines – autistic individuals love routine, and any sudden changes can be traumatising. Sticking to a structured routine or having visible timetables will help.
- Clear communication – delivering clear instructions can help an autistic individual to know what they need to do or what is expected of them in a lesson.
- LSA assistance – if your foster child’s ISP outlines that they need support from an LSA in the classroom, they could be entitled to this more personalised help when learning.
Literacy and numeracy interventions
Some children may need a little extra support outside of the classroom to help make their learning more accessible. This could mean having a literacy or numeracy intervention from an LSA or HTLA, either in a small group of similar individuals or through one-to-one sessions to improve their literacy or numeracy skills.
Helping your foster child at home
Fostering a child with additional needs is one of the most rewarding types of fostering that you can choose to do. But alongside making sure they get the help they need in school, you can also support their learning at home.
Check for homework
Once your foster child is back home in their safe space, it’s understandable that they would want to unwind from a day at school. However, make sure you check their planner to see whether they’ve got any homework that needs to be completed by a certain date. You can help them keep track of anything before the due date so that they can stay on top of things.
Help them with homework
If your child needs an extra hand when it comes to completing homework, give them the support they need. It’s not about answering work for them – it’s about empowering them in their own abilities to get the work done. Giving them a helping hand by walking them through the questions or helping them stay on task can help them to improve their learning.
Encourage self-care
With any outstanding homework out of the way, encourage your foster child to take some time to themself throughout the evening to work on a hobby or unwind with some games. Showing them that self-care is important will have a wonderful impact on their mental health, particularly if they find academic work challenging.
Curious about fostering a child with additional needs?
Are you curious about supporting a child with autism or ADHD but you’re not sure where to get started? Our team is here to help you start your fostering journey and really make a difference to a child’s life.
If you’ve got questions about fostering requirements or fostering a child with additional needs, simply fill out our enquiry form or give us a ring on 0800 369 8515 to speak to one of our friendly advisors who can talk to you about the process in more detail.