You may have heard how amazing being a foster carer can be, but what exactly is it that makes it so rewarding? Many foster carers say that the most rewarding part of foster care is helping these young people grow into confident, successful adults.

The commitment you show to supporting your foster child through their education and building their confidence in school, will not only help them now, but stay with them throughout their lives as they grow into adults.

As adults, we often look at our school years as some of the best years of our lives. It can be easy to forget how for lots of young people, school can be tough. Every child is different and while some ooze confidence, others can find new people and situations intimidating. Just like for any other child, school can be a scary place for foster children and a significant source of stress. It is key for any child’s development and confidence in school that they receive as much support as possible at home to help them succeed in their education, grow and blossom into confident young adults. As a foster carer, ensuring your foster child is in an environment which encourages learning can have a huge positive impact on them and be key to building these skills and attributes. These are some ways in which you can support your foster child with their education and help them to thrive within their education.

1. Understand the Impact of School

School can be daunting for any child, but even more so for a child who may have had an unsettled start to their school years. As we get older, we tend to remember the happy memories of school, but it can be a real source of worry and angst, especially for someone in a more vulnerable position. One way you can support your foster child is to empathise with how they may be feeling and act as a shoulder to cry on and a source of support, whenever they need it. If you have other school age children in your family, they may be a great help here.

2. Listening and encouragement

It is important that your foster child feels that they can open up to you about any issues they are facing. Check in with them regularly to understand how they are doing. This is not just about grades achieved, but how they feel emotionally about different areas of school. Are there any specific areas of concern? Helping them to express their aspirations and celebrate their achievements is just as important. If they talk about any specific interests or favourite subjects, encourage and help to develop these.

3. Engagement at home

You are the key person in the foster child’s life, and they will look to you for guidance. Create a home environment where they feel understood and supported and build learning into their daily routine. This will encourage them to feel more comfortable with education and help them feel like they can turn to you for support with their school endeavours.

4. Setting clear expectations

Whilst support and encouragement are key, setting clear guidelines and expectations will enable them to manage their time better and help them to distinguish between school time and recreational time and be able to make the most of both.

5. Take an active role

The more actively engaged in their education you are, the more supported your foster child will feel and this will help them to enjoy a happier and more prosperous education. Attending meetings and open evenings will show you have a genuine interest in them and their learning. Finding out how they are progressing and knowing their attendance at school will in turn help you to guide them and know what tools they need to enjoy their education to the fullest, including a good quality uniform, stationery and books.

The commitment you show now to supporting your foster child through their education and building their confidence in school, will not only help them now, but stay with them throughout their lives as they grow into adults. Your dedicated fostering team will always be on hand to support you and your foster child through their education and can help you build strong and consistent communication with their school.

5 Ways to Support Foster Children with their Education