Feature - February 2008

Literacy and the CWDC standards

As World Book Day and the launch of the National Year of Reading are fast approaching, literacy has become a major part of Government policy and the role that foster carers play in improving the educational achievement of the children in their care has never been more important. Literacy is the first step on the road to an education. Without it, it is much more difficult for children to move on to learning about the world around them, not to mention the worlds created by others in fiction.

Educational achievement of looked after children and young people

The educational achievement of looked after children has long been of concern to those involved in their care. In the year to September 2006, 58 per cent of looked after children in the appropriate age group reached the expected level at the end of key stage one compared with 85 per cent of all children. These figures decrease as the children get older with 47 per cent at the expected level at the end of key stage two and 30 per cent at the end of key stage three as opposed to 81 per cent and 74 per cent respectively of all children.

The need to improve these statistics has been reflected in a pledge in Care Matters: time to change, the Government white paper, to provide “improved help for carers to support literacy.” The form in which this support will arrive has not yet been decided, although this represented a positive step.

Why are we talking about literacy in a newsletter about professional development for foster carers?

The excellent care that we know foster carers already provide, including encouraging children and young people to do well at school, has now become more formalised. Standard five of the CWDC training, support and development standards ask that foster carers support play, activities and learning as well as showing “how you can encourage and support children and young people with their education (including early years education) and help them overcome setbacks” as part of supporting educational potential.

Looked after children are often disadvantaged by frequent changes and disruption in their lives both before and after they come into the care of the local authority. Some may have missed out on the support of the adults in their lives while other may have missed part of their education or moved schools frequently. Foster carers play a vital role in providing that support and in working with children to achieve their full potential.

How can foster carers help with the literacy of looked after children and young people?

There are many ways in which foster carers can help with literacy. Reading to younger children allows them to pick up the basics of reading while spending time with their carers. The children can also begin to read along with their foster carer.

Making reading fun is a large part of encouraging children with literacy. If children see reading as a chore, something that has to be done but which is not enjoyable, they are discouraged from picking up a book. Books left around the house including the bathroom may interest a child. It is also important to make reading a normal activity in the home. If a child sees an adult or older child reading, they may want to copy and read themselves.

It is also important to pick out books that will appeal to the child. All children are different and a book that appeals to one may not appeal to another. Some lists of recommended books are available such as the School Library Association’s Boys Into Books campaign.

It need not be expensive - joining a local library and allowing children to pick a new book adds a bit of excitement to books and allows the child to read many different books at very little or no cost. Many libraries also run storytelling events for young children and after school activities for older children and young people. You can also speak to the library staff to get recommendations for books to read. Local libraries may also have special membership for looked after children and foster carers - contact your local library for details.

The Fostering Network has responded to the growing interest in literacy by creating materials on the subject. These include:

• a new information sheet with more tips on how to encourage children to read and links to useful organisations on both child and adult literacy
• Key Resources in Foster Care: Literacy - a list of sources of further information, compiled and evaluated by us
• coming soon: a series of downloadable Roald Dahl certificates to encourage fostered children to read books and write their own stories.

More information and access to the materials is available at www.fostering.net.