Our children’s carers play an integral role in supporting our children to access educational experiences, whether this be through play at home, supporting with attendance, encouraging involvement in extracurricular/ family activities and experiences, supporting with homework, or encouraging wider learning.
As a carer, creating opportunities both inside and outside of the home are important in building a child’s vocabulary and experiences, whether this be through play activities for our little ones or building life skills and Independence skills for our young people.
As a Virtual School, we are committed to raising the attainment of disadvantaged youngsters (RADY) and making sure that everyone working with our young people have high aspirations of what they can achieve. Education can be the key to success, and we ask that as carers, you work with us, schools, and social workers to secure the best outcomes for our children.
Helping with homework
Homework can be difficult for some of our children, you can support by making time and space for homework and reading at home regularly. Sometimes homework will involve finding things out or doing something practical and you can do this learning together as part of family life – cooking, reading, playing. Help establish good ‘study’ habits as they grow older and this will help as they go through the system, helping them to become independent and successful learners. Give praise for putting time and effort into work, not just for getting the right answer.
Links to useful websites for encouraging home learning
Working with schools
The relationship between our carers and schools is integral for the success of our children in education. We would recommend carers keep in close communication with our children’s class teachers and designated teacher, who will be able to advise of our children’s attainment and progress and as such any resources or online platforms the school recommends for our children to access at home.
Tuition
Tuition is a really useful way of engaging our children in wider learning in core subject areas, whether is to help raise attainment, prepare for SATS/ GCSE’s or to be aspirational and encourage our children to achieve to be the best that they can. As part of our RADY journey, we also encourage early intervention and tuition to close some of the gaps children may have in their learning. As a carer you could discuss this at our child’s PEP and help facilitate the delivery of this.
Music Lessons
We want all our children to gain new skills and experiences therefore the Virtual School offer free music lessons to year 4, 5 and 6 pupils through Entrust music service. All children should take this fantastic offer up and would ask you as carers to support and encourage this. Please ensure this is raised and explored in the pep meetings or contact us if you would like more information.
What do Staffordshire libraries offer for children and families?
Do you know about all the support and activities our libraries offer for families?
At a recent practitioner forum, many people were surprised to hear about what families can access for free and the benefits of becoming a member of a Staffordshire library.
The infographic below is a useful reminder.
Please remember what the library can do for you and your young person.
Staffordshire children benefitting from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Children in care in Staffordshire are receiving the gift of a book each month thanks to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The book gifting programme sends a book every month from birth until a child is five years old.
The books are carefully selected and include traditional stories and rhymes, books by beloved authors and illustrators, non-fiction content and newly published titles.
Each book is specially wrapped and addressed to the child and delivered at no cost to the family.
Josie Suggate, from the Staffordshire Virtual School, administers the scheme for children in Staffordshire.
Reading a book and sharing a story with a baby or young child can help them develop their language and communication skills even when they're too young to understand what it means. It can also help strengthen the bond between a child and their parent or carer.
The scheme is a great way to spark a love of books and reading as early as possible in a child's life.
If you are working with any children under five years old, including children on any support plan, who are not yet signed up, please email josie.suggate@staffordshire.gov.uk