Closing the Gap: Support for Adoptive Families and Care Experienced Children

2. Who we are • Alison Parkinson • Helpline Adviser • Education Co-ordinator • Voluntary organisation – started by adopters, for adopters • Provide support for adoptive families • UK wide – Scotland, Wales, NI, England

3. Closing the Gap • For care experienced children • Looked after • Adopted • On the edge • Others • ACEs, Attachment & Attainment

4. ACEs

5. ACEs ABUSE • Physical • Emotional • Sexual HOUSEHOLD DYSFUNCTION • Mental illness • Mother treated violently • Divorce • Incarcerated relative • Substance abuse NEGLECT • Physical • Emotional

6. Care Experienced Children & ACEs

7. What’s the Score? ABUSE • Physical • Emotional • Sexual HOUSEHOLD DYSFUNCTION • Mental illness • Mother treated violently • Divorce • Incarcerated relative • Substance abuse? NEGLECT • Physical • Emotional

8. Attachment

9. Attachment Attachment Cycle

10. The Wall • All children have physical and emotional needs. • How these needs are fulfilled dictates a child’s development. From www.adoptionuk.org.uk

15. Care experienced child • Trauma • Abuse or neglect • Separation • Changes of carer • Affects development • Affects ability to attach to permanent carer

21. Attachment Disorders in school Areas of Difficulty • Control • Hypervigilance • Permanency • Executive function • Self regulation • Shame

22. Attainment

23. Attainment Results from AUK Survey of Members, ‘Adopted children and education’ March 2014 (UK figures)

24. Attainment • AUK exclusion survey • 6x more likely to be excluded • 1 in 5 aged 4-6 at 1st exclusion • 1/3 changed school • 11% home educated • 8% told to change schools to avoid permanent exclusion

25. Attainment

26. Attachment Aware Schools Training • Adoption UK trainers • Customised training • Attachment ambassadors model • Partnerships • Pupil equity funding

27. Participants’ Evaluation “Trainer was excellent – very honest, practical and knowledgeable” “I can see how I would handle certain situations – and children – more effectively” “I found it really useful..(to) deepen my understanding of effect of trauma on children, and how to support” “I found it really useful...realising that strategies for adopted children can really benefit all children i.e. positive language, acknowledging it’s the behaviour we don’t like – not the child” “I have found it useful, helping to simplify an approach- giving me a ‘bag of tricks’” “PACE – let’s do it!!!” “Understanding that discipline needs to be inclusive”

28. Practitioner Enquiry Reports Matching affect Mindfullness Buddies Social stories Phased entry to nursery Consistent routines The take control game Yoga Singing & rhythm games Visual timetable for transitions Time in rather than time out Parts language Calm box

29. Practitioner Enquiry Reports Matching affect Mindfullness Buddies Social stories Phased entry to nursery Consistent routines The take control game Yoga Singing & rhythm games Visual timetable for transitions Time in rather than time out Parts language Calm box

30. Summary • Aces • Attachment • Attainment

31. Thank you!