Many foster carers attend meetings with schools as part of their role. The below list is a reflection of all the things that I have found useful over the years, from the meetings I’ve attended. I hope these points will act as a guide and a checklist for other foster carers, and support them in the future, when preparing for a meeting.
- Write a list of questions you want answered.
- Ensure you will be speaking to someone who can make things change or implement new ideas (Deputy Head, Assistant Head, Head of Year (minimum)).
- Ensure you have the contact details of people in the meeting.
- Take notes at any meetings, who is doing what and by when, and why.
- Don’t be afraid to speak. If necessary take a deep breath.
- Ensure your facts are correct, if in doubt say I believe, I was told, I understood.
- Always chase up actions not completed by the school, and let the school know of results you have.
- Ensure you action anything you say you are going to do or let someone know why it is not happening.
- Take social workers along to meetings.
- Keep your social worker updated.
- Be prepared to take managers along to meetings.
- Befriend receptionists – they can often get you in at short notice.
- Be prepared to acknowledge your child is not always co-operative at school.
- Sanctions/consequences for actions that happen in school stay in school.
- Let your child know when you are going to school and why.
- When incidents have occurred ensure you have all the details. Names, places, actions etc.
- Be prepared to defend or acknowledge your child’s actions.
- Be prepared to explain actual age vs emotional age or developmental age.
- Ensure your logs reflect the meeting accurately.
- If you don’t understand something, ask. School speak takes some getting used to.
- Try and foster a good relationship with the school, however, your child comes first and if necessary, sacrifice the relationship for the good of the child.
- Any child can go to any school by law.
- Know your rights.
Advice for young people in meetings is also available in the Getting Your Voice Heard in Your Review Meeting guide.
