Support & Training
Development Workers
It takes more than equipment to support children in education, so our development workers, based throughout Northern Ireland, are available to help you build the skills and confidence you need to support those you care for.
Our experienced workers can:
- provide help and advice to you on making the best use of the funds available within this scheme.
- provide one to one support sessions and accompany you to meetings with schools if necessary.
- identify local sources of help for you and, where appropriate the young people, to help reduce the isolation and social exclusion they may feel. E.g. youth clubs, drama classes, tutors etc
- help you to identify gaps in your own knowledge and skills and enable you to access the appropriate training.
Training - for 2012 - 2013 is currently being organised. Please check back at a later date.
Workshops are run throughout Northern Ireland to provide you with essential skills. These cover IT skills, child protection and internet safety, how to help children acquire literacy and numeracy skills, as well as workshops on how the education system works and how to advocate successfully for a child in your care. Full details of workshops can be seen below.
If you would like information on any of the above training session contact Kellie on 028 9070 5056 or email kellie.long@fostering.net.
Fostering Achievement are beginning to look at developing new courses for the year beginning April 2012. If you have any particular training workshops relating to education you would like to see run in the future please contact your development worker.
Fostering Achievement runs various workshops for foster carers that relate to their role as ‘first educators’ of the children in their care. These workshops are provided free of charge.
All foster carers are welcome to attend any or all of the workshops, regardless of whether or not it is in their area. To book a place contact your Development Worker or Kellie Long on
028 9070 5056 or e-mail kellie.long@fostering.net
Workshops
Special Educational Needs
This workshop is aimed at carers with children in mainstream education who have mild/moderate Special Educational Needs. This workshop will define Special Educational Needs and take carers through what they can do if they have a child with Special Educational Needs; it will focus on how to work with the school, the statementing process and will identify useful resources.
Basic Computer Skills
This basic course is designed for foster carers with little or nocomputer skills. It will show you how to start the computer, complete simple tasks such as edit / print a word document and how to access the internet. Computers will be available for this training.
If you are interesting in this training, please contact Kellie Long
Internet Safety
The aim of this course is to provide foster carers with an awareness of the benefits and potential risks of internet use. It will explore ways that foster carers can help children and young people stay safe when using the internet and also enjoy using new technology.
If you would like to know a bit more about internet safety, and setting parental controls on home computers and consoles click here.
Social networking sites are very popular with young people these days, but can be slightly daunting for adults who don't use them. If you would like more information, please click here.
Pre Primary Education
From the minute they're born children are naturally curious about the world around them.
This workshop offers practical advice to Foster Carers on how to encourage and support early learning experiences in children from birth up to getting ready for school. Through stories, songs, games and imaginative play the workshop provides ideas for learning using everyday items found around the home and when out and about. The workshop will equip Foster Carers with the knowledge to work at the child's developmental level and will also look at items which can be found in the Fostering Achievment Little Buddies Packs, which are packs specifically designed to encourage learning through play.
Primary Education System
This course is specifically for carers with primary aged children and will explore how carers can practically assist children with literacy and numeracy at home, in a fun way. It will also cover how literacy and numeracy are taught in primary school, the various key stages, InCA’s and how to deal with homework difficulties.
Post Primary Education System
This course aims to provide foster carers with an overview of the post primary education system, the key stages involved and barriers to learning. It will consider how foster carers can support children in the choices they make and the educational implications of these choices. Suspension and expulsion will also be covered.
Self Esteem
This course aims to explore self-esteem, how positive and negative self esteem is developed, behaviours associated with low self esteem and practical ways that foster carers can help a child or young person develop positive self-esteem.
| Date | Time | Venue | |
| 20 March 2012 | 8pm - 10pm |
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