Schooling At Internal Schools For Children In Care

The objective of this report is to share experience from eight selected residential homes which have been described by placement specialists and experts as being particularly good at providing good internal schooling for children in care.

The report is intended as a source of inspiration for internal schools that want to increase their focus on children's academic skills. The report includes examples of specific interventions, approaches to the work and forms of organisation assessed to have a positive impact on the children's academic performance and progression.

Although the institutions do not work on the basis of the same approaches and pedagogical principles, the report shows some common trends in how they deal with schooling of children in care. A school day is tailored to individual needs and has special emphasis on predictability, structure, sense of security and closeness; academic success experiences; and finally inclusive and adaptable teachers and other pedagogical staff. Moreover, focus is on a holistic and cross-disciplinary approach. These are some of the positive experiences emphasised by the eight selected institutions.

The report was prepared as a sub-project under the research grant from the Danish Children's Reform with financial support from the then Ministry of Children, Gender Equality, Integration and Social Affairs.