attachment

About the issue

It is crucial for foster carers to be aware of the underlying and undetected communication difficulties experienced by children and young people in their care, in addition to their emotional needs. Foster carers are well placed to support and intervene early in helping young children develop their language abilities.

Foster carers need to work hand-in-hand with health and school professionals to identify and address delays early, rather than waiting to see if they subside.
 

Year 1 (2016 - 2017) masterclasses focused on the theme of building resilience and understanding attachment.

Developed for foster carers, social workers, and designated teachers, the masterclasses delivered further learning on attachment theory, explaining how and why insecure attachments can impact learning, and how teachers and schools can support vulnerable learners and build resilience by being attachment aware.

The presentations delivered on the day can be found at the below links:

Reading with your fostered child is one of the most important and enjoyable ways in which you can support their learning. Reading together improves children's listening and concentration skills, develops comprehension, stretches the imagination and improves word power. But as children and young people read, share and listen to stories, they also develop their ability to tell their own story and make themselves heard.  

What is attachment?

Attachment is quite simply a bond from someone who needs care to their caregiver. If the person needing care is scared, distressed or in danger, they will look to the caregiver for help.

In babies, attachment occurs regardless of whether or not the caregiver is any good at meeting their needs, so long as they can identify someone to latch on to.

Attachment may occur at any age, but in later years simply putting someone who needs care in the company of someone who wants to be a caregiver does not automatically result in attachment.