Education Forum – March 2021

Our first Education Forum meeting of 2021 was held online in March with the theme of ‘Widening Participation and Access to Further and Higher Education’.   Read More ...

Author : CELCIS

CELCIS's commitment to keeping The Promise

Learn more about CELCIS’s response and our offer to work in collaboration with The Promise and those working to support children, young people and their families across Scotland to realise the ambitions set out.   Read More ...

Author : CELCIS

‘You can never get enough books into the hands of enough children’

On World Book Day UK, Kirsty Hill, Regional Director at the Dollywood Foundation UK, discusses why reading for pleasure is crucial for children’s futures.   Read More ...

Author : Kirsty Hill

The role of the Virtual School Head Teacher and Care Experienced Team Network and its members, March 2019 - December 2020

Several local authorities in Scotland have chosen to allocate funding from the Care Experienced Children and Young People Fund towards the establishment and development of a Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) role, or a Care Experienced Team (CET). This led to the establishment in 2019 of the VSHT and CET Network, as a forum for support, information sharing, and discussion This interim evaluation report describes the developmental evaluation work which has been undertaken in support of the Network, and the findings in relation to the role of VSHTs and CETs both in the earliest days of the Network, and in the initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.   Read More ...

Author : Leanne McIver

Gathering evidence and producing estimates for care experienced pupils during the SQA 2021 exam diet

This document has been produced by the Virtual School and Care Experienced Team National Network with the intention of providing supportive, practical advice for schools and local authorities during the 2021 exam diet. This advice may be helpful when planning for and collating evidence to support an estimate, and when working alongside colleagues in schools to determine the appropriate grade and band to estimate for looked after or care experienced young people. The principles outlined within this document can also be applied to gathering evidence to support assessment at National 1-4 level.   Read More ...

Author : Virtual School Head Teacher and Care Experience Team Network

Virtual School Head Teacher and Care Experienced Teams' Phone Survey

A phone survey was carried out by the CELCIS Education Team in October 2020 with the members of the Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) and Care Experienced Team (CET) Network. The purpose of the survey was to gather information about the role, remit, and responsibilities of the network members in their developing roles.   Read More ...

Author : Leanne McIver and Linda O’Neill

Exploring the roles and responsibilities of Virtual School Head Teachers and Care Experienced Teams in Scotland

This paper has been produced as part of a series of discussions undertaken by the Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) and Care Experienced Team (CET) network, alongside Scottish Government and Education Scotland representatives, hosted and convened by CELCIS.   Read More ...

Author : Sarah Deeley and Linda O’Neill

CELCIS’ Response to the Scottish Government’s Consultation on the Revision of the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland

CELCIS have responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the revised national guidance for child protection in Scotland. We welcome this draft guidance, and in this response we have made suggestions to further strengthen the ability of the guidance to support the practice of those who care for children, so that it can make a difference to the life of every child in Scotland.   Read More ...

Author : Ruth Sills, Susan Mitchell, Michael Stewart, Louise Henry, Ruth Sills, Aileen Nicol, Kate Mackinnon

Exploring feedback around membership of the Virtual School Head Teacher and Care Experienced Team Network: Discussion findings from a facilitated workshop [Paper Two]

In October 2020 CELCIS convened and facilitated a virtual workshop with the Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) and Care Experienced Team (CET) network. The workshop aimed to explore the unique role of VSHTs and CETs in relation to supporting children and families during COVID-19 and what impact, if any, members felt there had been for themselves, children and families, by being part of the VSHT and CET network.   Read More ...

Author : Sarah Deeley and Linda O’Neill

Exploring the unique role of the Virtual School Head Teacher or Care Experienced Team in relation to supporting children and families during COVID-19: Discussion findings from a facilitated workshop [Paper One]

In October 2020 CELCIS convened and facilitated a virtual workshop with the Virtual School Head Teacher (VSHT) and Care Experienced Team (CET) network. The workshop aimed to explore the unique role of VSHTs and CETs in relation to supporting children and families during COVID-19 and what impact, if any, members felt there had been for themselves, children and families, by being part of the VSHT and CET network.   Read More ...

Author : Sarah Deeley and Linda O’Neill

Children 'get animated' in lockdown

Nikki Hepburn, Art teacher at Harmeny Education Trust, is a residential school providing care and education to children aged 5-14 who have experienced early years trauma, describes an animation project, funded by Creative Scotland, which created an innovative and accessible way for young people with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs to tell their own stories.   Read More ...

Author : Nikki Hepburn

Education Forum - November 2020

Resources from the November 2020 meeting of the CELCIS Education Forum.   Read More ...

Author : CELCIS

Information about the Care Experienced Students Bursary

Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about the Care Experienced Students Bursary (CESB) and higher education and further education. It covers details about who is eligible for the CESB, how to apply, and practical information about how payments are made.   Read More ...

Author : Hub for Success

An evaluation of the We are Citizens! Ensemble care experienced theatre company project

In 2018 the Citizens Theatre, in partnership with CELCIS, was awarded funding from the Life Changes Trust’s Creative and Active Lives initiative, to establish Scotland’s first professional theatre company for young actors with care experience. This was a bold and ambitious project. The vision was to establish, develop and nurture a unique Theatre Company for the many diverse voices of young people enabling them to be listened to, heard, and celebrated for their artistic talents.   Read More ...

Author : Dr Louise Hill, Dr Leanne McIver & Dr Brandi Lee Lough Dennell

CELCIS response to call for views on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

CELCIS strongly supports this progressive approach to promote systemic change through legislation for the promotion of children’s rights through incorporation of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). With a comprehensive approach to implementation, this historic Bill can embed children’s rights across our public services, change how we view and realise rights in Scotland, and raise the status of all children in Scotland, including those in need of care and protection.   Read More ...

Author : Kate MacKinnon, Paul Sullivan, Rosie Moore, Elaine Adams, Miriana Giraldi, Kirsty Deacon

Under the spotlight of COVID-19: Real change is possible

Claire Burns, Director of CELCIS (Acting), takes a moment to consider how much we have learned that we didn’t know before the COVID-19; how this emergency has thrown a spotlight on so much of what we already knew and what this means as we work to make change happen to realise The Promise.   Read More ...

Author : Claire Burns

Bridging the digital divide for care experienced young people in Scotland: If not now, when?

This report has been produced by CELCIS and the University of Edinburgh and investigates how Scotland’s care leavers have been affected by digital exclusion during the COVID-19 health crisis and how local authorities have responded to these specific needs.   Read More ...

Author : Kenny McGhee and Dr. Autumn Roesch-Marsh

Response to the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Skills Committee’s Inquiry into support for vulnerable children during the Coronavirus outbreak’

The Scottish Parliament's Education and Skills Committee is seeking information around the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on vulnerable children. CELCIS responded to this inquiry, sharing information on how services are responding to and supporting the needs of children and families in need of care and protection.   Read More ...

Author : Linda O'Neill

‘Supervision in Education – Healthier Schools For All’ - Barnardo’s Scotland

Barnardo's Scotland has published a new report 'Supervision in Education - Healthier Schools for All', which calls for better emotional and mental health support for education professionals to enab;le them to   Read More ...

Author : Barnardo's Scotland

WAC ensemble member Chloe talks about Whatever Happened to the Jaggy Nettles?

First published by Citizens Theatre, 30 January 2020.   Read More ...

Author : Chloe