School award for supporting pupils in care

A Stamford primary school is one of 24 in the county to receive an award for its efforts to support looked-after children.

St Gilbert’s CE Primary School took part in a national pilot project called Caring2Learn which aims to improve links between education providers and foster care families.

Lincolnshire County Council’s executive councillor for education, Patricia Bradwell, (Con) said: “We want all Lincolnshire education settings to be confident in nurturing vulnerable children and young people so they can achieve better than expected progress and we want carers, foster carers and residential care workers to champion education in the home.

“We’re delighted to be chosen to pilot the Caring2Learn project and this conference will showcase the first batch of many schools and foster carers who are dedicated to supporting children and young people in their care.

“It’s important all our looked after children and young people feel safe and comfortable in their home and school so they can have the confidence to learn and achieve their potential.”

The school received its certificate of recognition at a conference in Grantham along with 25 other schools and 16 foster carers.

They attended a presentation from a care leaver who spoke about the support she had received and how it helped her to follow her ambition.

The project is funded by the Department for Education and will continue for another two years with the option of adding another year. If the project is successful it will be rolled out to schools across the country.