Negative support Case study

Daniel is an able pupil living in a residential care home due to the fact that his mother is unable to look after him. He wants to be treated in the same way as all the other pupils. However, despite close consultation with the schools SENCO, the Inclusion Manager and the Head of Year regarding his background and past experiences, an English lesson was nearly enough to cause what could have been a very confrontational and damaging event. Daniel was asked to write a detailed history of the family he was living with and then verbally present this to the group. Daniel did not wish to inform the whole class or the teacher in this setting about his situation, but was not allowed to tackle another issue. This could have caused enough stress to provoke very challenging behavior or a severe loss of confidence and selfesteem, all of which prevent learning and could in certain situations lead to detentions, depression or even exclusion.

Fortunately Daniel was very hopeful about his future at that time and therefore decided to invent a family for the lesson. This in itself could have been detrimental to his emotional status, but in this circumstance allowed Daniel to maintain his normality with his peers. Daniel was able to alert his key worker to this situation and discussions took place that ensured that this situation did not reoccur.

Supplying all the parties with the information they may require, while still paying the necessary heed to confidentiality, is essential. This may well include lunchtime supervisors and administration staff. Without this all-round blanket of knowledge, incidents can occur unwittingly, that can have devastating effects on the life of a young person in public care. Hopefully, if this is achieved, there may be more young people who say: ‘I thank God for this school every day when I walk through the door’ (15-year-old girl, OFSTED, 2001).

Discussion

How well does or would the educational setting in which you work support a young person in public care? Consider the government initiatives, such as Personal Education Plans and designated teachers and discuss how successful you feel they may be in promoting and enhancing the educational opportunities of these young people.