Thematic report |
Education in Children's Homes - March 2008
The arrangements for educating young people in children’s homes are complex because of the diversity of provision. The nature and quality of the provision depends on the priority given to education by the organisations that run children’s homes.Most independent schools are unfamiliar with the requirements for registration when they first apply. However, they generally make good progress in following recommendations to meet the requirements for opening.In the 15 small schools that operate in children’s homes, pupils do not all receive the same entitlement to education. Teaching time varies from school to school, and in almost all schools care staff are expected to supervise follow-up activities.
Recommendations
The Welsh Assembly Government should:
- consider seeking formal arrangements with the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales to report directly to the Welsh Assembly Government where young people in children’s homes are not educated in maintained provision; and
- ensure that registered independent schools maintain daily attendance registers that comply with regulations, and fulfil the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Regulations (Wales) 2003.
Local authorities should:
- provide registered independent schools with pupils’ education records more promptly and ensure these include up-to-date information; and
- take a more positive role as corporate parents.
Registered independent schools should:
- carry out an initial assessment of new pupils, monitor their progress effectively and use the information to plan appropriately to meet pupils’ learning needs; and
- evaluate and monitor more rigorously the education programmes of study for pupils who attend other institutions for part of their education.