Attachment Training Programme For Schools | FCA Fostering News

June 26, 2007

Responding to the Government’s white paper: Care Matters: Time for Change, Foster Care Associates (FCA) has launched a new training initiative to support schools throughout England and Wales who are working with looked after children and vulnerable young people.

Entitled: ‘Attachment Training For Schools’, the FCA initiative identifies classroom strategies and management approaches which are found to be most effective in supporting looked after children and young people with specific attachment difficulties. The course offers advice, information and guidance on the issues that vulnerable young people may bring to the school setting as a result of significant loss or trauma in their early lives.

Tim Whittingham director of educational services at FCA, explained: “The key aim of the programme is to underpin the Government agenda to ensure a ‘first class education’ for looked after children.

“It is important that schools understand the impact that attachment disorder has on a child’s behaviour and how this can be transferred into the classroom.

“By putting the role of the designated teacher on a statutory footing and supporting this through training and guidance, we aim to help schools focus on the progression of children in care in understanding and meeting their academic and emotional needs.”

Earlier this year, FCA successfully piloted a similar scheme in Scotland, delivering the training to 10 schools across a number of local authorities. As a result of this success, the training course is now available to schools, colleges and support services where vulnerable young people exhibit behaviours associated with attachment issues.

The FCA training session will be delivered by Andy Williams who has over 20 years experience as an educational psychologist and is also a qualified play therapist. For further information on the FCA ‘Attachment Training For Schools’ and to discuss daily delegate rates, please call Julie Cairns at FCA on 01527 556480 or email julie.cairns@thefca.co.uk