Care Experienced people currently experience stigma and discrimination within their communities, which is underpinned by a lack of public knowledge and understanding of care experience. This can lead to care experienced people not feeling accepted, included or as though they belong within their communities. Creating school environments which are more supportive and inclusive provides an opportunity to improve the educational experience and outcomes of care experienced learners.

The communities that care whole-school approach ensures that care experienced children and young people are nurtured and supported in their schools by educating entire school communities (pupils, staff, parents/carers) about what care experience is and creating an ethos of empathy and understanding towards their care experienced pupils.”

Principles of the approach

• educating parents, carers and the wider school community about care experience
• leadership and management that supports care experienced pupils within the school
• supporting professional development of staff to ensure they are equipped to support care experienced pupils
• curriculum, learning and teaching which enhances knowledge and understanding of care experience
• targeted support and participation offers for care experienced pupils in school and within the community
• enabling care experienced pupils’ voices and participation to influence school policy

The above principles are informed by:

• The Promise Scotland
• Curriculum for Excellence | Policy for Scottish education
• Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) | Policy for Scottish education
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (www.gov.scot)

Improvement questions

• As a school how well do we ensure practitioners, pupils, parents and partners have an accurate understanding of care experience (and its potential impact on educational outcomes)?
• How well do we create a supportive and inclusive school environment to ensure every child and young person has the chance to reach their educational potential?

Video

Vimeo video: Communities that Care (3.47 min)

Downloads

The reports and video below provide more detail about this innovative pilot project and the educational impact that it has had.

Communities That Care Whole School Approach (2.8MB)

PDF file: Communities that Care diagram (7MB)

PDF file: Educational Impact Report (1.4MB)