Case Study: Home School Liaison

A ten year old boy from Iran had been housed in four different hotels in two years since arriving in London, sharing a room with his mother and father. His mother was being helped by the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture, and also received treatment at the local hospital. His father was the mother's carer, and also provided most of the parental support.

The boy had attended four different schools in London, and there were ongoing concerns about his progress, including inappropriate behaviour. Every time he had settled at a school and begun to make friends and progress with his learning, the family had been re-housed.

The home school liaison worker and the class teacher wrote a letter to the local housing department, requesting that the family be given their own accommodation near the school. Supporting evidence from the Medical Foundation and the local hospital was included with the letter.

The school also made a referral to the charity, The Place2Be (P2B) www.theplace2be.org.uk, which provides emotional and therapeutic support to children within the primary school environment.

The housing department considered the evidence from the school and offered the family a flat in a part of the borough where they had a support network. The boy completed his primary education at the same school, and made good progress.