Specialist Education

View the lists of special needs that a school or college can meet with a certain amount of scepticism: make sure the school addresses the difficulties of the conditions, and doesn't just contain them - or think they can cope as "we had a student with this diagnosis a year or so back". Check that staff receive training in their students' particular difficulties. Go for a college or school which offers the right range of special needs; be wary of those which profess to cover many. Nothing is as important as making a personal visit, on a normal working day, to a shortlist of several schools. Try not to take your child with you on these preliminary informal trips - they may become excited, confused and agitated, especially if they visit several in a short space of time.

 

There are a number of different types of schools available:

 

Maintained Special School - schools that cater soley for special needs and are provided and funded by the Local Authority.

 

Non-Maintained Special School - approved as a special school under section 342 of the Education Act 1996. Non-profit making schools run by charitable trusts. NMSS schools are funded primarily through pupil fees charged to Local Authorities which place children there.

 

Approved Independent Special School - usually owned by an individual or limited company or group of companies but can be a charity. Approved by the Secretary of State to take children with Statements of SEN, majority of placements funded by LEAs. Wholly funded by pupil fees and can be run on a profit making basis.

 

Independent Special School - owned by an individual or limited company or group of companies. Can take childen with special needs without Statements or with Statements if individual approval is obtained from the Secretary of State. Wholly funded by pupil fees and can be run on a profit making basis.

 

For more information or advice, contact us here, or call 0161 507 3723.

 

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Foster Parent Suitability Questionnaire

Some basics to become a foster parent

Here are a few questions to help you discover whether fostering is right for you and what we need from our foster parents.

1. I have a spare bedroom for a foster child

2. I will be available to care for a child full time

3. I am over 25 years old

4. I have a stable, positive home to offer a child

5. I am a patient, resilient and understanding person

Foster Parent Suitability Questionnaire

Becoming a professional foster parent

We regard fostering as a profession. Therefore we'll treat you as a professional - we'll provide great pay, support and training. In return we expect our foster parents to provide a high standard of care for our children. 

I want a professional career in fostering and am happy to undertake ongoing training

Foster Parent Suitability Questionnaire

The challenges of fostering

Fostering is life changing and rewarding work. It can also be challenging at times but our foster parents tell stories of the great satisfaction they gain with our expert support. 

I understand that some children in fostering may have challenging behaviour due to the experiences they may have had

Foster Parent Suitability Questionnaire

Working as part of a team

As a foster parent we require you to work as part of the By the Bridge team but also with social workers, teachers and health workers to help support the child.

I am able to talk and listen to young people, aswell as working part of a team to help support them