Education

Education is an important factor in enhancing looked after and adopted young people's life chances. Parental involvement in a young person's learning is more powerful than family background, size of family or level of parental education and, in the primary years, has more impact on attainment than the school itself.

The Education Team are part of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) and is formed through a collaboration with the four Virtual Schools in our region – Derbyshire, Derby City, Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City. The wider offer is overseen through regular collaborative management between the four Virtual Schools and Adoption East Midlands (AEM). 

The level of need in education for adoptive families is high. Taking this into account, and recognising that our resources are limited, we have developed a graduated response to support as many families as possible.

In response to our growing needs, we created the Whole School Approach, which allows us to provide tailored support that addresses the varying levels of need within the school community, ensuring that every adopted young person receives the appropriate level of care and attention.

Education One-Off Consultation

We offer adoptive parents a one-off education consultation with an education support worker. This is a single, focused meeting designed to provide immediate support and guidance for adoptive families and their young people within the school environment. During this consultation, one of our education support workers will meet with the you to discuss your young person's specific educational needs and challenges. The aim of the meeting is to offer expert advice, identify potential strategies, and provide resources that can help improve your young person's educational experience.

EHCP and SEND Enquiries

Whilst we acknowledge and understand that many of our adopted young people may have additional and/or special educational needs/disabilities (SEND), our education support workers cannot and do not provide advice and/or advocacy for EHCPs or tribunals., as we are not a specialist SEND service.

They can signpost you to organisations locally (within our region), nationally and online who can support and advise. They can also provide an overview of the SEND process, including information about what to expect from schools when a SEND is identified and an explanation of the cyclical process of ‘Assess, Plan, Do. Review’ which can lead into the Graduated response.

The one-off consultation serves as an initial step to address any pressing issues. It is particularly useful for families seeking quick, targeted assistance to navigate the complexities of the school system and ensure their young person's needs are met effectively.

If you feel a one-off consultation would be beneficial, please contact our Help Desk at Adoptionsupport@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk or telephone on 0115 804 4500.

Education Workshops

These sessions are specifically designed for adoptive parents to support their young person's educational journey. Our workshops provide a collaborative space where parents can gain practical strategies and insights into the unique challenges faced by adopted young people in educational settings.

Join us to enhance your understanding, share experiences with other adoptive parents, and equip yourself with the tools needed to effectively support your young person's learning and development. Our education support workers will guide you through various topics to ensure you feel confident and empowered in advocating for your young person's educational needs. The topics of our workshops are:

  • Transitions at Primary School
  • Transitions at Secondary School
  • Introduction to Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
  • Building Communication and Relationships in School: An Adopter's Story

If you would like more information, or would like to book your place on our 2025 - 2026 training sessions, please refer to Education Workshops flyer.

Education Solution Circles

An Education Solution Circle is a peer support session designed specifically for adopters to address educational challenges and find practical solutions. These sessions are organised by the Education on TRACK team and aim to provide a collaborative environment where adopters can share their experiences and receive support from both peers and education support workers.

Each one and a half hour session involves two adopters presenting their problems to the group, with others participating in a supportive capacity. Facilitated by experienced education support workers, these sessions focus on collaborative problem-solving, generating actionable ideas, and empowering adopters to confidently work with school staff and advocate for their young people's needs.

If you would like to take part in one of up and coming education solution circles, please fill out this form.

For more information about our our education solution circles, please refer to Education Solution Circles PDF.

Education Co-Production Groups

We have an education co-production group which is made up of a group of adopters, together with Adoption East Midlands staff, who are experiencing challenges with their young person’s education journey. This is a safe space to hear the stories and experiences of all and to offer each other support. All adopters are invited, please email Adoptionevents@adoptioneastmidlands.nottscc.gov.uk

For more information about our education co-production group, please refer to Education Co-Production Groups section on our Peers4Peers Service page.

Whole School Approach

The Whole School Approach is a comprehensive strategy designed to create a trauma-informed school environment that supports adopted pupils and their families. This approach involves collaboration between various support roles and initiatives to ensure the well-being and success of pupils.

The Whole School Approach is guided by seven key goals that aim to create a supportive and inclusive environment for adopted pupils. These goals focus on developing a deeper understanding of trauma-informed practices, promoting positive school relationships, and addressing the Social Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH) of referred pupils. Additionally, the goals emphasise the importance of hearing pupil voices, making reasonable adjustments to policies, reducing dysregulation through occupational therapy, and creating a peer community for adoptive parents. By achieving these goals, the approach ensures that the school environment is equipped to meet the unique needs of adopted pupils and support their overall well-being. 

Click the video below to gain valuable insights into the benefits of the Whole School Approach:

Please note that we select the schools we work with and do not take requests from families to work with particular schools. This ensures that our resources and efforts are optimally allocated to create the most effective and supportive environments for all involved.

Key Components

The Whole School Approach integrates several key components to provide holistic support for adopted pupils. These components include the involvement of education support workers, youth workers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and the development of an education peer network. Each of these roles plays a crucial part in addressing the unique needs of adopted pupils and creating a supportive school environment.

Education Support Workers: They play a crucial role in bridging the gap between the school and the unique needs of adopted pupils. They assist staff and parents in understanding adoption-related issues and provide training to ensure that the school environment is supportive and inclusive. These workers also offer resources like the AEM Education TRACK, which is designed to help adopted pupils thrive academically and socially.

Click on the video below to gain valuable insights into the benefits of the virtual reality teacher training:

 

Youth Workers: They are integral to the youth voice forum, where adopted pupils are encouraged to share their experiences and feedback. This forum allows pupils to voice their concerns and suggestions, which the school then acts upon with a "we heard, we did..." approach. Youth workers help facilitate these discussions and ensure that the pupils feel heard and valued.

Click on the video below to listen to our Youth Worker, Aimee Sharpe, talk about the importance of youth voice:

Speech and Language Therapy: Speech and language therapist provides essential assessments and therapy for pupils with speech and language needs. This service is particularly important for adopted pupils who may have experienced early developmental challenges. The therapist works closely with the school to create individualised plans that support the pupil's communication skills and overall development.

Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapist focuses on reducing dysregulation both inside and outside the classroom. They use practical strategies to help pupils manage their sensory needs and improve their ability to participate in school activities. This support is vital for creating a stable and conducive learning environment for all pupils.

Education Peer Network: The education peer network aims to build a strong community among adoptive parents. This network provides a platform for parents to share their experiences, offer support, and collaborate with the school. Additionally, the network helps develop adopter education champions, who play a key role in creating positive relationships between adoptive families and the school. If you would like to be an education peer champion at your school, you can find out more information on the Peers4Peers Service page.

These components work together to create a holistic and trauma-informed approach that supports the well-being and success of adopted pupils in the school environment.

Collaboration with Virtual Schools

Our four virtual schools are working alongside us, and we are collaborating to support a single point of access for adopted young people via the AEM education team. The statutory role of the virtual school is for previously looked-after young peopel is ‘to promote their educational achievement through the provision of information and advice to their parents, educators and others who the Virtual School Head (VSH) considers necessary’. We will signpost you to the virtual school in your area if we think they can support your young person at school.

The key roles of the virtual schools in our collaboration are:

  • To collaborate with AEM in producing and delivering a training offer for families.

  • Participation in management of the education project as part of the wider AEM Multi-Disciplinary Team.

  • Offer advice and information to providers of early education, designated teachers in schools and providers of alternative provision. Also improve awareness of the vulnerability and needs of previously looked-after young people through training and support for schools. This includes promoting good practice on identifying and meeting young person’s needs and guidance on effective use of pupil premium funding.

If you would like to contact our virtual school direct, please see the following contact details:

To find out more about the virtual school in your area, please visit their website: