Useful Information

VSK does our best to ensure that, to the best of our knowledge, the information provided on our website and social media channels is correct at the time of publication.

This information is solely for general purposes. It has been prepared in order to provide certain information that might be helpful to people who need to use our service.

General Education Information

• Early Years and Childcare acronyms
• Admissions information for Children in Care
• Admissions information if your child has an EHCP
• General Admissions information
• Anti bullying resources including session plans and training schemes
• Attainment and Progress Levels explained
• Education Endowment Foundation interventions, reports and guidance
• Elective Home Education information
• Inclusion and Attendance Service
• Improving Behaviour in Schools – Education Endowment Foundation Guidance
• Kent Test information
• Kent Safeguarding 5 minute fact sheets
• LGBTQ+ Stonewall provides information on developing an inclusive curriculum, resources and examples for storybooks to use in the classroom
• Managed Moves explained
• Managing Back to School/College Anxiety - what support is offered by KOOTHS and how to access it
• Personalised Timetables and Reduced timetables
• Prevention of Exclusion
• Pastoral Support Programmes explained
• Schools Transgender Guidance (The Intercom Trust & Devon and Cornwall Police 2015) - whilst the Kent guidance is being written we thought this might be useful.
• The Education People - a one-stop shop for education services, supporting the full age range from early years to young adults.
• What Works for Children’s Social Care What works in Education for Children who have had Social Workers?
• The PRU, Inclusion & Attendance Service (PIAS) is a countywide service providing advice, support and signposting on a range of educational matters including school attendance/absence, fixed term and permanent exclusions, children missing education, reduced timetables, child employment and entertainment, and legal intervention processes. The service has particular expert knowledge of statutory guidance related to the themes mentioned above, represents the Local Authority in statutory meetings such as exclusion appeal panels, and delivers training to governing boards, school leaders and staff as well as project work in schools directly with children and young people. PIAS has robust links with schools and networks regularly with other multi-agency services, representing in a range of forums with the core aim of promoting the inclusion of children and young people of statutory school age in primary, secondary and special schools as well as Pupil Referral Units.

SEN Information

• British Dyslexia Association Dyslexic Association
• BEAMS is a local charity that supports disabled children, young people and their families
• The National Organisation for FASD is dedicated to supporting people affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), their families and communities
• Kent Autistic society is a specialist provider of services for autistic young people and adults
• National Autistic society is the UK’s leading charity for people on the autism spectrum and their families
• Information Advice and Support Kent (IASK) – offers free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
• Mainstream Core Standards – Provision that the local area expects to be made available for children and young people with SEND attending mainstream schools.
• SEN Hub (The Kent Local Offer) for all information on SEND information in Kent
• Specialist Teaching and Learning Services

Trauma and Attachment information

• Beacon House is an integrated mental health and occupational therapy service offering a range of assessments and therapies for children, families and adults. It has a vast array of free resources for schools to support understanding of trauma and attachment. Please visit their website for more information.
• Braveheart Education educate and support those living with or working with vulnerable children – whether they are looked after, adopted or in challenging home environments. Free educational resources and podcasts are available on their website.
• Coram Life Education is part of the Coram Charity and is the leading provider of high quality Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education and works to support 475,000 children nationally.
• Nurture UK is dedicated to improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people and removing barriers to learning by promoting nurture in education.
• Rees Centre regularly runs free webinars for the public, based on their research around vulnerable children, particularly those with care experience.

Children in Care Information

• Care Leaver Progression Partnership – A partnership of organisations in Kent and Medway, committed to improving the post-16 education and training experience for local children in care and care leavers Here
• Corporate Parenting Responsibilities
• Criminal Injuries Compensation information
• Designated Teacher Professional Portal
• Designated Teacher PEP Information

POST16 information

• Post16 Information
• Higher Education Information

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) information

• UASC – useful information for those working with Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children

Fostering Information

• Foster Carer training and resources
• Kent Fostering Service Handbook
• Thinking of becoming a Foster Carer?

Young People information

• Kent Cares Town Website for all young people who are or who have been in the care of Kent County Council.
• Kent Adoptables. The Adoptables is a Participation group for adopted young people aged 12-18 living in Kent, Bexley and Medway. If you want to make friends and influence how Adoption Services are run, then please email vsk_adoptionparticipation@kent.gov.uk for more information.
• Participation Team. The VSK Participation Team are responsible for encouraging Children in Care, Previously Looked After Children and Care Leavers to speak up, voice their opinions and to help share the services that they receive. The team includes Apprentice Participation Workers, many of whom are care experienced so have a good understanding of what it is really like to be in care. For more information, please email vsk_participation@kent.gov.uk
• VSK LGBTQ+ Leaflet - Identifying as a member or as a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community has never been so celebrated as it is today. Here is a list of organisations and websites that offer support and information for free.

General Information

• Anxiety information Moodspark resources and information
• Christmas for children and young people who have experienced trauma
• County Lines information – Unseen’s campaign to end County Lines
• Department of Education’s Statutory guidance publications for schools and local authorities
• Domestic Abuse Support Services in Kent and Medway
• Mental Health Information
• Mental Health support for people aged 17+
• Mental Wellbeing information hub
• Kent Resilience Hub - a resource that helps young people, parents and carers, staff and practitioners to understand emotional wellbeing and resilience
• Reconnect - a community-led programme designed to get Kent’s children and young people back to enjoying activities and opportunities they took part in before COVID-19 – as well as the chance to try new things along the way.
• Kent Safeguarding Children Multi-Agency Partnership website
• CSE and FGM Information
• Child Protection and Safeguarding
• Safetypin Campaign The Safety Pin allows young people and those who work with them to access advice, guidance and support on a wide range of topics such as mental health, homelessness, relationships, etc

Families supporting young people with a Special Guardianship order

• Special Guardianship Orders - A guide to help available to you
• Support for families with children under a Special Guardianship Order