Katie Simmons has taken on the role of Children’s Rights and Education Practitioner, making sure that the children who access Tŷ Hafan can also access an appropriate education.
Katie can offer a time-limited programme of regular lessons, either in the child’s home or at the hospice, to support children to feel more able or confident to access their statutory education. Katie keeps these lessons fun, interactive and led by the child’s interests and abilities.
Some children cannot go to school in the winter because of the increase in illnesses or are simply too unwell to attend school at all. Sometimes schools aren’t equipped to meet a child’s deteriorating condition or complex medical needs and this new role gives children more opportunities to access some education and hopefully prevent them falling too far behind their peers.
If a child is non-verbal but still cognitively able, we use equipment and techniques to help them engage. With the Eyegaze technology, a child with limited speech and mobility can engage with the lesson just by moving their eyes, for example doing sums on the screen.
Occasionally siblings can also find themselves unable to engage in formal education, sometimes due to caring responsibilities or the impact of bereavement. Katie will advocate for them, encouraging a return to school and, in the short term, may be able to provide some educational support so they don’t miss out on an education.
“Under Article 28 of the Children’s Rights Act, all children are entitled to an education,” says Katie. “Children deserve an opportunity to learn and be taught key skills and subjects that will benefit them, no matter what difficulties they might have in their lives.
“Kelcea from the Youth Board helped interview me alongside two senior colleagues. She came up with her own questions and gave feedback on my answers. She grilled me!
“She found that being part of the interview process helped her feel empowered and was a valuable insight into how to conduct yourself during job interviews. We are now looking at having a young person on the interview panel for roles across the charity!”