What was the situation?
Ajay is 15 years old and lives with his mum and two younger siblings. When he was referred to School-Home Support he was teetering on the edge of the education system, at risk of being exposed to harmful influences.
His school attendance was just 39% and he was completely disengaged from his learning. Ajay was unable to see the benefits of going to school, and was at serious risk of missing out on his education entirely.
Ajay’s mum has complex health needs, including suffering from epilepsy, and has regular medical appointments. The family have financial difficulties and outstanding loans, and with Ajay’s behaviour becoming increasingly challenging, family relationships were fractious.
How did School-Home Support help?
School-Home Support practitioner Sharon began one to one sessions with Ajay, building a positive and trusting relationship that enabled Ajay to share his feelings and explain his frustrations. Working in collaboration with Ajay’s school, Sharon developed strategies to improve his school punctuality and attendance, alongside effective tools to support Ajay’s learning needs. In time, Ajay was able to explore his aspirations for the future, reengaging with his learning and building confidence in his abilities.
Ajay’s school attendance has increased to 83.7% and his teachers report that he is now on track to be entered for his GCSEs as a year 10 student. Looking positively to his future and feeling confident in his own ability to succeed, the risk of Ajay engaging in dangerous behaviour is significantly reduced and he is happier both at home and at school.