What to do if your foster child has to move schools or doesn’t have a school place.
If your foster child has to move schools
A child will only move schools if:
- they can’t carry on going to the school where they were before
- they need to move from pre-school to primary, or from primary to secondary
Most foster children stay at the same school when they’re placed with a new carer. Having a stable school place is very important, especially when other changes are happening for the young person.
If your foster child needs to move schools, their social worker will need to talk to The HOPE first. Everyone involved in the child’s education needs to discuss what is in the best interests of the child.
If your foster child needs to move schools in key stage 4 their social worker will also need to get agreement from:
- The HOPE's headteacher
- the Director of Children and Families at Bristol City Council
If a change of school is agreed, your foster child’s social worker will apply for a school place.
If your foster child doesn’t have a school place
Your foster child may not have a school place because:
- they’ve had to move care placement urgently during the school year and no suitable education setting could be found before the move
- they’re new to the country
If your foster child doesn’t have a school place we’ll work with their social worker and other local authority staff to try to find them somewhere suitable.
Children and young people in care have priority in admissions at schools and academies.
We always aim to get a place in an education setting that’s rated ‘good ‘or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
When your foster child moves from primary to secondary school
Moving from primary to secondary school can be stressful for a lot of children.
You can help the move be a positive one by working with other key adults such as the designated teacher and the young person’s social worker.
You should:
- go to the PEP meeting in Year 6 and be clear about any actions and when they’ll happen
- know the name of the secondary designated teacher and their phone number
- support the young person to attend any additional visits or summer school
- attend the PEP meeting in Year 7 and be clear about any actions and when they’ll happen
- talk to the young person about how they’ll get to school, practise the route if needed
- help them get used to their new timetable and develop a regular homework routine
- monitor the young person’s wellbeing during the early days at secondary school and discuss any concerns with the social worker and the designated teacher
