Education
Our commitment to the young people we care for is to support them in fulfilling their potential, whether or not we provide their formal educational placement.
Educational underachievement is one of the biggest barriers for looked-after young people. Their attainment is below the general population, with only a quarter achieving five or more GCSE grades A*-C compared to three-quarters of all pupils.
Factors contributing to this include instability in care and school placements, inadequate support, low expectations, early adversities, poorly informed teachers and social workers, and carers not being sufficiently involved in the child’s education.
Placement Stability and Education Plans
Placement stability, in particular, is correlated with attainment; the more moves a child or young person experiences, the less likely they are to achieve than those in a single placement. It is, therefore, for Lawrence House School’s commitment, that we work closely with care and therapy staff to maintain placement stability and share information to work together proactively around each young person. Having an individual education plan (IEP) and avoiding disrupting education is an integral part of our care planning process. The IEP is not a static document but is regularly reviewed and updated. We also ensure the Education Health Care Plan were in place is followed. If we believe a young person needs an EHCP we will raise that with the relevant professionals.
Lawrence House has a number of commitments to young people:
- We will assess (with a range of tools with our clinical psychologist) where each young person currently is, not as a limitation, but to identify potential and starting points.
- We will provide a bespoke curriculum that builds on our assessments and information from previous education. We will make the curriculum interesting and varied.
- We will listen to our young people and work with their carers, providing home project-based learning and themes to follow up in their home life. We will also follow up themes from their home life in school.
- We will work hard to maintain each young person’s placement to offer stability.
- We understand the impact of previous life experience(s) and offer a nurturing environment.
Inspirational Work