Agenda item

The Relationship between Health and School Exclusions - A Deep Dive

Minutes:

Dr Stacy John-Legere, designated doctor for Looked After Children introduced the report.

 

The following was highlighted at the meeting:

 

·  School exclusion for those in care – look at ways to ensure young people stay in school especially those with special needs and disabilities. The focus was to keep the children in education.

 

·  Identify any health needs and provide an educational plan or overall health plan and liaise with school commission and educational psychologists.

 

·  Exclusions: Most of the exclusions were boys that had health problems such as asthma, obesity and learning needs.

 

·  Referred to communication with schools – and develop a plan for those children that might be excluded.

 

·  Referred to girl with complex PSD (post stress disorder), mental health issues, who had experienced physical abuse within the family. The girl had previously been excluded but has now been assessed. Steps are now in place to improve her health and wellbeing which includes working closely with her foster mother.

 

·  Continue the working relationship with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

 

·  Southwark Virtual School for looked after children: Continue work with children that have challenging behavioural problems and provide a structural plan for those children through the Southwark LAC health team.

 

Dr Stacy John-Legere responded to questions from members on the following:

 

·  Widen access to services for young people especially those with challenging behaviour

·  The behaviour of children improved when they had breakfast in the morning

·  School nurses: Review of schools that do not have access to a school nurse

·  Better self care skills – train children life skills

·  Mental health strategies – providing additional support and signposting Health assessments for referrals on autisms and dyslexia

·  Dyslexia in adults report that 40% are not identified in early childhood

·  Virtual School – a review on the number of exclusions and evaluating self assessment forms relating to the number of young people in care.

 

ACTION:

 

The committee receive a report back on Virtual school’s number of exclusions and evaluating self assessment forms that involved the number of young people in care.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the report be noted.

Supporting documents: