Access to Education team for travellers, refugees and unaccompanied asylum seekers

A countywide, early intervention team, which provides support in enabling families to have unhindered access to education, and promotes the attainment and achievement of young people, aged 0-19yrs (25yrs with LDD).

Our services include:

• specialist knowledge and experience of working with Travellers (including bargee, circus and fairground), Refugees and Separated Migrant Children in Hertfordshire.

• an experienced team who have a comprehensive understanding of the barriers that these vulnerable and hard to reach communities face in education.

• Access to Education Officers provide support for families, schools and other services/professionals in order to achieve positive educational outcomes for children and young people.

• Services for Young People PAs provide support to ensure that the needs of these young people are met so that they are able and motivated to engage in education, employment and training. Assistance with CV writing and registering on the Apprenticeship website is also offered along with looking at local job opportunities and guiding the young people through interview techniques. We also offer mentoring sessions enabling the young people to succeed and deal with issues which are important to them, such as self-esteem and staying safe. These sessions can be held in schools or within their local area, using libraries or their nearest with Services for Young People young people's centre. Traveller Site visits happen on a regular basis in order to keep in touch, as some of the young people can be hard to reach and might not necessarily access all the services which are readily available to them. Further information can be found at: Services for Young People.

• In conjunction with the Local Authority Attendance Team, work to achieve a positive impact on attainment and attendance of children and young people 0-19 (25yrs with LDD)

• Support schools, services and other professionals to develop effective, self-sustaining links with families and their communities.

Separated Migrant Children

Separated Migrant Children (SMC) are supported into education by the Access to Education Team, working together with other professionals to ensure the best possible educational outcome for the young people.

Principles

The principles which govern multi-agency working with Separated Migrant Children are based on the statutory guidance Promoting the education of looked-after children and previously looked-after children (DfE February 2018).

• All Separated Migrant Children are homeless and they are given emergency accommodation by the local authority under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989
• As they are all placed in an emergency, a Personal Education Plan (PEP) must be initiated on the Welfare Call system within 10 working days of a Separated Migrant Child becoming a child looked after (CLA)
• With support from the Virtual School, the social worker takes the lead in initiating the PEP on Welfare Call (paragraph 23 of DfE statutory guidance, February 2018)
• The PEP is part of the child's care plan and it must be available for the first CLA review
• The Access to Education Team and the Virtual School are responsible for supporting social workers to ensure timely provision of a suitable education placement for all Separated Migrant Children.
• Some Separated Migrant Children may never have had any experience of formal education before coming to the UK: they may need time to be prepared for formal education and the initial arrangements may include cultural orientation and life skills appropriate to their age (paragraph 14 of DfE statutory guidance, February 2018)

Practice

This is a brief overview of the Access to Education Team's role in the provision of educational arrangements for Separated Migrant Children.

• Information about new arrivals usually comes from the Brokerage Team, but the Access to Education Team may hear about a young person directly from a foster carer or a semi-independent placement
• Once we know of a new Separated Migrant Child an Access to Education Team member or the Virtual School Education Advisor arranges to attend the first CLA review to give a summary of the educational arrangements
• Interim provision will be set up and there are various ways in which Virtual School's offer is made to the young person
• These include individual tuition either in person or via videoconferencing, attendance at a local tuition group or tuition by an approved tuition agency
• The Access to Education Team (For in County) or Virtual School Education Advisor (Out of County) then seeks a school or college place, and this is done in consultation with the foster carer and the social worker
• Initial PEP’s to be arranged with the Social Worker by the Virtual School Education Advisor.
• The Virtual School Education Adviser continues to monitor the child's educational arrangements until the end of compulsory school age
• Once the child reaches the end of Year 11 the Virtual School's Post-16 Adviser continues to provide support for the tertiary phase of the young person's education.

Note: the Access to Education Team also offers advice and support regarding the education of young people who are refugees. The legal status of these young people differs from Separated Migrant Children in that they have relatives in the UK who take responsibility for them, and they may be accompanied by an adult on their journey here.

Access to support and advice about individual children is through a Single Service Request form or by direct contact to Karen Jeffreys.

Contacts

Ann Halls – Manager
Karen Jeffreys – Support Officer
Emma Hunter – Access to Education Officer
Claire Kemp – Access to Education Officer
Hayley Sharp – SFYP PA
Jane Lowe – SFYP PA

Tel: 01438 844900 or HCC Switchboard on 01992 555555