fosterfamilies

Summer 2011 Issue 9 £2

Fostering at 75

300+ children and still fostering

Love and fostering?

Top tips on dating as a single foster

carer

“Totally absorbing stories and loads of ideas to get you thinking,” Debra Gibbs, www.fosteringsupport.co.uk

The next stage to becoming a foster carer

Pushchair Trader

How many pushchairs have

you owned?

Going to panel

Find us onFacebook

and

Online sample only

Download the full version here: www.fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

Contents Summer 2011 foster families 2

support . . .the power of play therapy ... 17 getting you through an allegation ...28

advice . . .become a foster carer series: panel ... 4ask our psychologist: soiling ... 10find out if they are being bullied ... 11tantrums: find out how you can calm them ... 20

holidays . . .make it a stress-free holiday for all ... 8 holiday travel with tots and older kids ... 9

personal . . .find out how other carers got on at panel ... 5supergran doreen still fostering at 75 ... 6 dating and foster care: emma’s story ... 14dating and foster care: alastair’s story ... 15tantrums: your stories ... 21foster mum at 19, in a land far from home ... 24sharing mum and dad - a birth child’s view ... 25

food and health . . .tiny new inhaler to help asthmatics ... 12find out about daytime wetting ... 31aldo zilli combats fussy eating ... 32autism: changing your routine ... 34eggs: the whipping method ... 35chris’s cookery cards ... 36

Contents

All this inside our full version:

fun stuff . . .kids’ corner ... 37crossword ... 39

our top tips ...stress free holiday ... 8holiday travel tips ... 9signs of bullying ... 12how to balance fostering and dating ... 13top tips for boosting self esteem in kids ... 26developing communication skills... 28daytime wetting ... 32combat fussy eating ... 32tips for autism ... 34your letters ... 38

home . . .how many pushchairs have you owned? ... 30

reviews ...paper jamz guitars ... 16burt’s bees lotions ... 16 read about Autism ... 34

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competitions ...family day out and dating membership ...14‘ingenious’ games ...18 horrible histories dvds..37waybuloo dvds ...37maxi-cosi noa buggy ...39

discussion point . . .cathy glass talks about the contact system ... 23

education . . . supporting care leavers through university ... 22

relationships . . .foster carers and dating ... 13supporting one another in your role ... 19

Welcome Summer 2011 foster families 3

Find us on Facebook and

Contents Summer 2011 foster families 2

27

8

36

Welcome Summer 2011 foster families 3

Welcome from the editor...

Find us on Facebook and

Dear Reader,

This is the online sample - please download the full magazine for £1 or subcribe to the full printed copy for £2 delivered direct to your door. Take a look at our tips for a stress-free holiday, as well as tips for making travel fun. If there’s toilet trouble in your house check out our advice on soiling and daytime wetting. Find out how other people got on in front of the fostering panel, and don’t miss the story of a 75 year old who is still fostering.

Ceressa Bateman, Editor

Foster Families OnlineWhat can you find?

Visit www.fosterfamilies.co.uk for the latest news and updates from Foster Families Magazine. The website has a shop, a swap shop and a competitions page, plus lots more. You can order the magazine in different currencies depending on where you live, or you can download the magazine to your computer for £1.

For more updates you can follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Foster_Families or become a fan on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Foster-Families-Magazine/144256428433

It’s time to face the panelThinking of fostering? Garry Williams explains the application process and going to panel

Naturally, many potential foster carers may be worried about what is involved, but the process shouldn’t be

daunting. Finding out about fostering couldn’t be easier:Application formTo help you through the application process, training sessions are available at regular intervals. At the Together Trust for instance, you join us for three days or six evening sessions where you are fully supported by an experienced team of social workers who facilitate the training. Following the sessions, there are certain statutory checks required to carry on with the process, such as police checks and medicals. With your permission, the agency will also ask for personal references and will contact your referees to ask

more about your background and qualifications. Along with the application form, the agency will help you to compile a portfolio of written material giving examples of relevant experience and skills. The fostering panel Keeping paper work to a minimum, the assessment will then be sent to a fostering panel which actively encourages applicants to attend. The panel will make a recommendation based on the information within the assessment and references received. The recommendation is then sent to the Agency Decision Maker who makes the

decision as to whether you can become an approved foster carer. If unfortunately you are not approved, an appeal can be made to the Independent Review

Mechanism (IRM).If approved, you will receive a letter informing you of your success and you will be allocated a supervising social worker who will visit and discuss the next steps.

Part 1 of our How to Become a Foster Carer series (issue 8) looked at making the decision up to the initial visit from a social worker. Find out what happens next

Part 2

 

By Garry Williams, Together Trust. For more information about Together Trust please call 0161 283 4848 or visit www.togethertrust.org.uk.

Download the full version here http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html to read Katie and Kerry’s stories of going to face the fostering panel.

Relationships Summer 2011 foster families 5

Personal Summer 2011 foster families 4

It was late summer of 1964. Don and Doreen Roberts, had just sat down to watch the news on

the television. Don, a self-employed master plasterer, had just come home from a hard day’s work on a building site somewhere in Somerset. Doreen had just given their four young children their tea. As they watched the local news, in their three-bedded council house, they saw a feature on the wonders and joys of fostering here in Somerset, and that there was a shortage of foster parents. Don’s eyes lit up. He turned to Doreen and said: “Hey, we could do that!” That is all it took, five little words to start a life long commitment and devotion to fostering. They spent the night talking about fostering, and the very next morning Doreen rang her local Social Services, and within six months they had their first foster baby and a brand new and very much bigger home too. I was their second foster child. Way back in June of 1965, I was three months old, unwanted, born with an extremely rare eye condition (Bilateral Ocular Myopathy with

Ptosis) and in need of a loving home. In those days only ‘perfect’ babies were offered up for adoption by Local Authorities, and I was destined for an uncertain childhood in a children’s home. Social Workers warned that I might find it difficult to cope with lots of trips back and forward to the hospital. But they

took me in, and from the moment they

held me in their arms they both promised that I would never leave them, and named

me Andrew. That is how I ended up in this fantastic and very happy home, which I stayed in until I was over 24 years old. Like me, most kids were in care because their own mothers were just unmarried-mothers. Such shame and what a scandal! So much so that both sets of my own blood grandparents conspired

together, and had it totally hushed up. My mother was sent away in disgrace to have her illegitimate baby in a Mother and Baby Unit, and to have the child put up for adoption on the other side of the county. My parents had no input or say in the matter, and my mother’s parents even found it necessary to move home. It was a different era back then, and attitudes differed from today’s world. Over many happy years I saw hundreds of children pass through...

Andrew Roberts tells the story of how Don and Doreen took him in... along with 300 others!

They don’t call her Supergran for nothing!

Doreen with husband Don

To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

Clockwise from top: Doreen at the 2004 Children’s Champion Awards with Barbara Windsor, Simon Cowell, Duncan James, and Ulrika Jonsson; Doreen collecting her Award from Cherie and Tony Blair; and Doreen holding her MBE, with Andrew (middle) and sons Grahame (left) and Paul (far right)

“Kids were in care because mums

were unmarried”

Relationships Summer 2011 foster families 5

Personal Summer 2011 foster families 4

The dating game

Being a foster carer can be difficult at the best of times and most would agree they struggle

to find the time to fit everything into their day, so for single foster carers with little free time dating can seem like a scary, if not impossible, task.Andy Hammonds, spokesperson for MumsDateDads.co.uk, the UK’s favourite dating site for single parents, agrees finding love when you have children can be tricky. He says: “For a responsible parent it’s understandably difficult to take time out to focus on yourself and dating can be full of uncertainties.“Introducing new people into your family can be daunting and parents often feel unsure about whether they should be dating and the effect it could have on their children. “But dating is definitely ok, you just need to remember two simple tips, communication and patience, that will help you to find that special someone whilst ensuring your family’s happiness.”Communicate......with your dates- Let dates know from the offset that your foster children are your top priority. If this is a problem for your date they are probably not someone

you want to have a relationship with....with your children- Be honest but don’t feel you need to tell your children everything. Tell them you are going out with a friend and try not to share any more until you are sure about where the relationship is going.- Make sure they know they will

always be your top priority.- When you introduce the children in your care to someone you are dating, listen

to what they have to say. If your children have real concerns or feel uncomfortable with your new partner you need to listen. Talk to your new partner about the problem, see how they interact with your children and really think about the situation.Be patient- Take your time getting to know a new partner before introducing them to the children you care for. If you allow your children to bond with someone early on, only to break up later it can be very upsetting for the children and they may come to resent you dating anyone at all. Check with your fostering agency what their policy is with telling children you are dating.- When you are ready to introduce a new partner to the children take small steps. At the start try short, casual dates before you begin to include them in family activities.Foster carers and datingAnnette Webb, Simply Fostering, says: “When it comes to new partners, there is a legal requirement to carry out checks, including the enhanced CRB on every adult who is part of the fostering household. This includes regular visitors, who might not even stay overnight at the house.

“Once an adult stays more than one or two nights and is looking to stay more often in the future, most agencies will require the individual to be checked. “Foster carers must inform their agency of any overnight stay of an adult or child prior to them staying, as the family dynamics change and there are safe caring issues to be considered regarding sleeping arrangements and routines.”Jonquil Mitchell, Cabrini Children’s Society, adds: “If the relationship develops and the new couple want to live together and continue fostering, they must both be assessed as foster carers. It is not possible to have only one half of an adult couple in the household being the approved carer and the other one not.“The new couple are offered training and the time and space to reflect on their relationship and how they operate as a caring couple.” But be warned: the assessment process is thorough and intrudes into all aspects of the couples’ life.In all cases the welfare of the children is paramount, and the carer has a duty to notify the agency*.

Andy Hammonds gives his top tips on successful dating as a single foster carer

“Communication and patience are

key to dating”

About MumsDateDadsMumsDateDads is the UKs favourite dating site for parents. Its members are single parents or are happy to date someone with children. MumsDateDads offers free registration, astrological & compatibility matching. Users can send winks and virtual gifts, create and view video profiles, and upload photos via their mobile. There is instant messaging & video chat, plus new member notifications. Sign up for free at www.mumsdatedads.co.uk.

Want to know more?Jonquil says: “Each carer should have a copy of their own agency’s policies and procedures which would give them guidance, and they should also have a supervising social worker, who would do the same.”

* According to The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 regulation 27(5)(b)

Download the full version to read Emma and Alastair’s stories of finding love while fostering

http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html.

Relationships Summer 2011 foster families 6

To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

Win a family day out and free membershipAnimal Fayre is a one-of-a-

kind wildlife event taking place in July and August

this year. Visitors will be able to handle a selection of over 50 exotic and stunning creatures, in the centre

of London. For more info visit: http://www.animalfayre.org. If you’re tired of being single and want to find that someone special, MumsDateDads.co.uk is the perfect solution

to help you meet and date other single parents. For your chance to win six months free membership to MumsDateDads and a family day out to Animal Fayre worth £250, simply answer this question (hint: read article on p13): What are the two things to remember when dating? a) Communication and patienceb) Numbers and figuresc) Music and lyricsAll entries must be in by July 10th 2011. The first correct entry drawn on that date will win.

Win

As the school summer break rapidly approaches many of us are looking forward to

our annual holiday; a more relaxed routine, the promise of sunshine or the chance to experience a different culture. But for many foster families, taking a holiday can be far more stressful than being at home. Some children in care find that the loss of a predictable structure routine together with an unfamiliar environment can send them into panic mode. For others their core belief, ‘I am bad’, is so strong that they believe they don’t deserve the good things in life, so they escalate their behaviour to ensure that they, and often everyone else involved, have anything but a good time!If you are planning a holiday this year and are already detecting signs of anxiety in your child or just want to try and avoid the disaster you had last year, here are some tips which may help:

1 Think about the timing of the trip. If the child is unsettled by

contact with their biological family,

see if it can be arranged to take place after your trip so that you are not overloading them with stressful situations.

2 Acknowledge that holidays can be stressful for

them, ‘I know it will be hard for you to be out of your usual routine...’ Continue to check on their emotions while you’re away. If they find it hard to express this verbalise what you think they might be feeling.

3 Try and involve the child in the

planning process

as much as possible - feeling in control helps create a sense of stability.

4 Get some books about your destination or check out ...

Taking it easyLorna Miles gives her top ten tips on making it a stress-free holiday for everyone involved

More about LornaLorna Miles is an adoptive parent and has been a foster carer on and off for 25 years. In addition she has worked with children in care in a variety of settings and is also involved in foster carer training. Since the publication of ‘Holding on and Hanging in’ by BAAF in 2010, she has also been running workshops on attachment for other professionals working with children. Find out more at www.lornamiles.co.uk.

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Relationships Summer 2011 foster families 6

To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

As a foster carer, you play a crucial role in supporting

and developing the speech, language and communication skills of the children and young people in your

care. With younger children, this is more obvious, but supporting communication skills is important throughout childhood and beyond. Using language at schoolChildren develop their language skills in primary schools, becoming more sophisticated in how they talk to a range of people and how they develop their language to learn and make friends. Teenagers continue to develop their language and communication skills throughout secondary school: learning new vocabulary to help do well in class; using talk to help work out problems; and learning how teenagers talk and

listen to each other. For some young people knowing how to join in conversations with a group, answering questions in class, or knowing the latest phrases can be challenging. There is also a direct link between having good spoken language and good written language, with one influencing the other in older children. Making friends Communication is a skill like any other and will get better with practice. Young people benefit greatly from support with their communication and there is much you can do as a foster carer to nurture it and to identify if they are struggling. Looked after young peopleA child’s early environment and experiences are fundamental to their development. Difficulties here can negatively impact their emotional and educational progress as they grow into adults. Neglect can cause a child to have a smaller brain,

which can affect all areas of a child’s development including language and their ability to interact with others.Young people in care are at greater risk of behavioural, social and emotional difficulties (BESD) and are more likely to have experienced insecure attachments. There is a real correlation between these difficulties and having a speech, language and

communication need. 60%–90% of children with BESD have communication difficulties and this can impact on their

ability to make friends, their self esteem and future job prospects. The government has also identified looked after children as a group who are the greatest risk of social exclusion. Knowing the importance of language development and its impact on all areas of development for these children and young people is key, so that they can be supported to develop these skills and receive help if needed. Read on for our top tips on supporting them.

Find out more at www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk

Communication’s what you need

Wendy Lee, Communication Trust expert, explains how you can help the young person in your care to develop conversation skills

“A direct link from spoken to written

language”

Top Tips

15 foster families Autumn 2010

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8 Communication as a key life skillWendy Lee...

Learning to talk is the most complicated process our brains have to master, yet it is too

often taken for granted. Being able to be understood, talk and communicate with others underpins all learning and social development. Often we think that children who are slow to talk will catch up – sadly this is not always the case.Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)In the UK today, one in ten children has speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) - that’s around three pupils in every average classroom. In some socially deprived areas of the UK, upwards of 50% of children are starting school without the communication skills they need to learn, achieve and make friends.Children with SLCN will struggle with some, or all, of the following:• Listening and understanding what is said• Knowing and using a good range of words• Speaking in sentences • Speaking clearly• Talking in different situations with different people

Looked after children are at greater riskAround 60–90% of children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties have

SLCN. Unfortunately, this can apply to children and young people in care, since they are at significantly greater risk of social, emotional and behaviour difficulties.We know that if children have communication difficulties it can impact on many areas of their lives, such as learning to read and write, their behaviour and their self esteem. Being able to support children’s communication development and knowing when children are struggling can help minimise the impact of difficulties.The ‘communication’ role of foster carersFoster carers are in a unique position when it comes to developing children’s communication skills. They can play a crucial role in identifying children and young people who are not communicating as they should be and can support them to reach their full potential. Research has shown that children who receive help with their speech and language difficulties by the

age of five and a half have the best chances of going on to do well in school, developing good literacy skills and building good social relationships. Older children too can benefit from support if their speech and language difficulties are identified and supported.

More about Wendy: Wendy Lee, Professional Director at The Communication Trust with over 25 years experience of speech and language therapy, explores the crucial role that foster carers play in developing children’s communication skills and discusses a forthcoming 2011 campaign that will put this issue firmly in the public spotlight.

Download the full version for Wendy’s top five tips to support young people’s speech, lanugage and

communciation: http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html.

Communication

Burt’s Bees Scientifically Proven 24 Hour Moisture Body LotionsThis lotion feels wonderful - it is lovely and thick, meaning a little bit goes a long way and you don’t need to re-apply too often. We recommend it for keeping your skin soft and fresh this summer. £9.99 from www.burtsbees.co.uk. Look out for others in the range too, such as the Radiance Day Creme (right).

Paper Jamz guitars Six rocking new guitars with awesome new songs. These paper-thin guitars look

the part and kids from 8 years+ can learn chords on them, without paying out for a real guitar. At just £24.99 RRP we think these will keep kids happy for hours on end. Choose yours here: http://www.wowwee.com/en/products/toys/entertainment/paper-jamz/guitars/guitars-series-2

22Spring 2011 foster families

Photo: Virginia Aleksiev

National Insurance Credits appear

to be a benefit that a lot of foster carers are not aware of... perhaps because it has no immediate financial impact.This was formerly

known as Home Responsibilities Protection scheme (HRPS), which foster carers have been able to apply for since 2003. HRPS was replaced by Credits for Carers on 6 April 2010.What do they do?As a foster carer, this weekly national insurance (NI) credit helps protect your basic State Pension and Bereavement Benefit.Therefore, if you’re not paying NI contributions because your income from fostering is under the small

earnings exemption*, these credits can help maintain your NI record. This then protects your entitlement to the basic State Pension and Bereavement Benefit.However, the credits do not count for Maternity Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance: you would need to pay Class 2 NI** to be entitled to these benefits. You’ll automatically receive the NI credits if you receive Child Benefit for a child under the age of 12, Carers Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker’s Allowance.Will you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010? If so, any complete tax years of HRP you’ve already built up before 2010 are

converted into a maximum of 22 qualifying years. These qualifying years will also count towards bereavement benefits.To apply for NI credits you can download form CF411A from www.hmrc.gov.uk or ring HMRC

on 0845 302 1479. You will need to send a letter with the completed form, from the local authority or fostering agency that you’re registered with to confirm

you are a registered foster carer.The credits are done on a weekly basis from the date you are approved a foster carer - unlike HRP where you needed to be registered for the full tax year.It’s worth applying for HRP now if you haven’t done so already. You can apply from tax years back to 6 April 2003 using forms CF411.You can check if you have been receiving HRP/Credits by ringing the HMRC National Enquiries for Individuals Helpline on 0845 3021479 and asking for your NI Statement of account.Fostertax complete these forms for the foster carers they look after when completing their tax returns. Self Assessment Tax Returns Previously, if your income was covered by exemptions as a foster carer you weren’t required to complete tax returns. However, HMRC now require all foster carers to complete tax returns which means all foster carers must register as self employed. Contact Fostertax on 01207 524909 if you require assistance completing Tax Returns.

Are you benefitting from National Insurance Credits?

Fostertax specialise in looking after the taxation affairs of foster carers. Please contact Hayley on 01207 524909 or visit www.fostertax.co.uk.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • •We specialise in looking after Foster Carer’s taxation

Visit us at www.fostertax.co.uk, or speak to us on 01207 524 909 to find out how we can help you

We charge a fixed fee, agreed in advance

“Protect your pension with

NI credit”

Foster carers can apply for a weekly credit

National Insurance Credits: Hayley Payne explains the benefits available to foster carers

Missing out on the benefits?

*£5,075 for the tax year 2010-2011**£2.40 a week for the tax year 2010-2011

Can we help your child?www.brighterfutures4.co.ukTel: 01630 639617

At Brighter Futures for Children

we adopt the CHILDTM intervention model

Our aim is to create

a therapeutic team around the child and by so doing empower and enable those people to understand and continue to meet the needs of the child long

after our work has ceased

Our intervention

model is based on working in partnership with those who have significant roles to play in the child’s

life

We have a track record

of improving the stability of placements and enabling children

to grow and achieve

Cardiff City Manager Dave Jones supports Simply Fostering in their efforts to recruit foster carers nationwide for

the benefit of Local Authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies, who are able to provide choice and better matched placements for children in the care system.

For more information, please visit www.simplyfostering.co.ukor contact Annette at info@simplyfostering.co.uk.

Competition winnersNarnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader DVD: Sarah from Bristol and Chantelle from Selly OakGatwick Bear book: Joy from BirminghamKatie and Kimble book set: Chantal from Isle of WightMummy Told Me Not to Tell by Cathy Glass: Lou A, Lesley R, Julie R, Katie M, Sarah B, Joy B, Lesley W, Sharon I, Sarah C and Emma H.

Check these out - our top choices this summer

Communication

It was Wednesday and 10 year old Kevin* was attending his weekly play therapy session. Kevin was

driving a car along the road he had just created in the sand tray - an unending journey along a circular road. His sand tray world contained no buildings, no animals or trees and no people. The car travelled alone and without ever seeming to reach its destination. The symbolism was all the more striking when one considered the extensive abuse he had suffered from the time he was a baby, the many moves he had experienced between foster families and birth family all unable to manage his extreme behaviour. Reaching out to him in therapy was

all the more challenging when being physically close caused him acute anxiety. Asking Kevin to explain how he felt or why he behaved the way he did was met with a shrug of the shoulders. Trying to teach Kevin appropriate behaviour was unsuccessful. Integrating him into school was

impossible because of his behaviour towards other pupils and his inattentiveness in lessons. Kevin found it impossible to trust anyone or

anywhere. Aims of a play therapistAs his play therapist my first aims were to create a safe environment – physically and emotionally - and to encourage him to explore the use of toys to express himself in whatever way made sense to him. I let him

know I was with him by commenting on what he was doing. Gradually he allowed me to also drive a car along his road – at some distance from him, but mirroring what he was doing. Over many months his play progressed and he gained the confidence to express his anger, finally being able to separate himself from overwhelming feelings of responsibility for what had happened to him. The power of play therapyFor Kevin the power of play therapy enabled him to connect with his own story, express his innermost thoughts without the need for words and use ‘pretend’ to address the reality of what it was like to be him. Using play in therapy mirrors how children naturally learn through play. Play is linked with creativity...

The power of playPlay Therapist, Judith A James, shares how play therapy can bridge worlds and create change  

“Play therapists help carers meet children’s needs”

We all love the holidays, although keeping children entertained on rainy days

and long journeys can be stressful! So rely on BrainBox Games to make the holidays both fun and educational, whatever the weather.From trips to London to a day out at the zoo, BrainBox has games to encourage attention to detail and memory skills. Enjoyable, fast-paced games prompt fact

sharing, helping you relive outings and learn about the world from your own living room.Green Board Games have released their World Pairs game as an app, downloadable from i-tunes for 59p. Matching flags, capitals and country outlines will help keep boredom at bay in the car, at the airport, or in theme park queues. If you prefer to escape technology when on holiday, BrainBox games has a range of 25 Snap and Pairs games. From Times Tables and the Human Body, to Holiday words and Elmer, these can be played anywhere and are a great way to support children as they learn and discover new interests.The Ingenious Travel Game, RRP £15.00, is a portable version of the award-winning family strategy game. Easy to learn, quick to play and with infinite number of

strategies every game will pose a unique challenge. Try playing the online version on the Green Board Games website.To enter our competition to win the Ingenious Travel Game, simply answer this question: Who produces the Ingenious Travel Game? a) Green Board Gamesb) Blue Number Gamesc) Yellow Stone GamesAll entries must be in by August 10th 2011. The first two correct entries drawn on that date will win.More info at www.brainbox.com.

Two Ingenious games to win for the holidays!Enjoy the holidays with BrainBox Games from The Green Board Game Company

Win

Send your entry, along with your name and address to competitions@fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Ingenious’ or post to Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB.

To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html*Names have been changed to protect identity

Education Summer 2011 foster families 10

Home Summer 2011 foster families 11

I have been a foster carer for 19 years and I can boast that I was probably the first

carer within our local authority to have children move onto a university placement.I have a passion for young people achieving their full potential in education as I know there is a stigma attached to their ‘under achievement’.Applying for fundingAt the time no one knew what they were entitled to as no one had ever had to apply for

funding before.We approached the student loan people and they sent us the

form to fill out. As a looked after young person they were classed as being self supporting and were therefore entitled to full funding.We did not have to send any of our details for assessment as we were not the parents. Both of my young people received full allowances and full tuition fees. The process

did not take long and with the help of their signpost worker we were sorted

before the move to university.Choosing universities I attended all of the uni visits and picked halls of residence with the young people I had cared for. It was a very ...

University challengeFoster carer Bev Semper tells how she supported the decision to study

Support for care leavers

A great place forinspiring minds

To enable you as foster carers to assist your looked after children to achieve their potential, the university can provide:

General advice about gaining a place at university and the benefi ts of higher education

Advice on the fi nancial and practical support available, such as our care leaver’s bursary of £1,000 per year (subject to conditions).

www.gre.ac.uk/careleavers

Quality mark awarded for our commitment to working with care leavers

“We went above and beyond their

expectations”

CO

MM I T T E D T O

CA

R E L E A V ER

S

Support for Care Leavers

The scheme offers:

_ A £1000 bursary per year (subject to approval this will be £1500 from 2012 entry)*

_ Flexible entry requirements_ A single point of contact at the University_ Advice on accommodation, student funding

and student services_ Funding for year abroad and overseas placements_ Pre-entry welcome day*conditions apply

To find out more information visit

www.kingston.ac.uk/compactor contact us on

compact@kingston.a.ukor telephone

020 8417 3233

www.aber.ac.uk/wpsi

Gweithio Gyda Myfyrwyr sy’n Gadael Gofal -Ein hymroddiad ni i’ch dyfodol chi

Er mwyn cael cymorth a chyngor cyn i chi gyrraedd (mewn Dyddiau Agored, dyddiau ymweld, etc.), drwy’r broses ymgeisio,

ac wrth i chi gyrraedd, astudio, ac ymlaen i’ch graddio, cysylltwch â DEBRA CROFT yn y Ganolfan Ehangu Cyfranogiad

E-bost: dec@aber.ac.uk Ffôn: 01970 622681,neu Tecst: 07968 77 55 23

workinG with students froM Care- our commitmEnt to your futurE

For help and advice before arrival (at Open Days, visitingdays, etc.), through the application process, arrival, progression,

and on to graduation, contact DEBRA CROFT in the Centre for Widening Participation

E-mail: dec@aber.ac.uk Tel: 01970 622681,or Txt: 07968 77 55 23

To read the rest of this article please download from

http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

Education Summer 2011 foster families 10

Home Summer 2011 foster families 11

How many pushchairs have you owned?

Foster Families is certain we have many pushchair-aholic readers. If you are a lover of pushchairs

or just like to keep up-to-date with the latest models then Foster Families has found a brilliant website that we are certain will interest you.

The Pushchair Trader website has interesting and informative reviews on pushchairs which include the latest models and old favourites.Gurus of all things

‘pushchair’, the Pushchair Trader team have reviewed more than 50 pushchairs in the last nine months. Spending time with manufacturers has also helped them develop good knowledge on lots of products. Parents of small children themselves, they really know what to do to put a pushchair through its paces and love the reaction of the children to each new pushchair they get to ride around in. The reviews they place are parent-friendly, honest and without prejudice and every pushchair’s brakes are put through the flip-flop friendly test. Linked in with their Facebook page the engaging audience are always more than happy to have their say on the pushchairs that are reviewed. This means that parents can get a true understanding and feel of a product in a way that just isn’t possible

anywhere else.A fantastic community spirit radiates from the Facebook fan page: mums and dads are on hand and always willing to answer questions posed from other fans. This can range from, ‘What colour pushchair should I buy?’ to ‘Where should I take the kids?’.The best thing about Pushchair Trader for our foster carers is that it features a fantastic sell facility for your pre-loved pushchairs, not to mention the regular competitions with great pushchair prizes. Carers who look after young children will no doubt have stacked up a phenomenal amount of pushchairs over the years and still need a few for different situations. A few of the Pushchair Trader loyal Facebook fans have admitted to owning in excess of 200 pushchairs over the course of looking after little ones. Susan Whittle, from Lancashire, is a carer of two children under three years old and a fan of Pushchair Trader. She says: “The best thing about Pushchair Trader is that it

enables you to keep up-to-date with all the latest models without trailing young children around the shops - which they don’t really appreciate! When I was bringing up my kids pushchairs were very different so when I decided to foster I had to get up to speed again. I have five pushchairs at the moment, some are prams and some are buggies.” She continues: “It’s quick and easy

to check the latest reviews and I really respect other people’s opinion. Plus I’ve also made some friends in the process.”

On occasion the Pushchair Trader team arranges group tests so there is the opportunity to take part in group testing of products. Recently they got to arrange an exclusive test for the Maxi-Cosi Noa buggy and samples have gone out to people taking their children on holiday. So watch out for an amazing review on that soon. There’s a chance for you to win one with Foster Families too on page 47.Contact us and let us know how many pushchairs you have.

Pushchair Trader - where the pushchair-aholics play

“Some have owned over 200

pushchairs”

The team

Visit www.pushchairtrader.co.uk/http://www.facebook.com/PushchairTrader

University challenge

This is not the full version - to read all the articles, download the full version here for just £1 or subscribe to the printed version. The printed copy comes out four times a year, and costs £2 per issue or £7 for the whole year. The printed copy has no extra adverts, just lots more advice, support, fun and personal articles. Email subscriptions@fosterfamilies.co.uk or subscribe at www.fosterfamilies.co.uk.

Food and Health Summer 2011 foster families 13

Food and Health Summer 2011 foster families 12

Say no to fussy eaters!Follow Aldo Zilli’s top ten tips for healthy eating

Having a child who’s a fussy eater can be a huge source of worry for parents and foster

carers as they need to ensure their child is eating all the right nutrients and goodness but want to avoid a power struggle every dinner time.Celebrity chef, Aldo Zilli, is a father of three who has had his own share of dealing with fussy eaters. He launched his organic baby food range, Baby Zilli, to help combat picky eating from a very early age by combining a diverse range of delicious ingredients in each convenient pouch. Each product in the Baby Zilli range has been created from a recipe Aldo used on his own children and so have been tried and tested on the real baby Zillis!Aldo says: “Fussy eating is usually a phase children go through, and frustrating though it is, the key is to stay calm and use some of my practical tips to help turn meal time battles into a fun and enjoyable experience for the family.”

Aldo’s Top 10 Tips for Fussy Eaters:

1First of all, it’s important to only buy the foods that

you want your child to be eating. If there’s no junk food in the house - how can they eat it?

2Giving the food exciting names helps to make

children more interested in what they’re eating. Our new flavours Tutti Frutti and Blueberry Blast are designed to make mealtimes fun. It sounds silly but sing songs, or pretend you’re a rocket launching the food into their mouths - do whatever makes the concept of eating more enjoyable to the child you care for.

3Serve up food in little portions on their plates

and add more when each portion is finished. This ...

To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

My husband and I foster an eight year old boy with autism. He has

been with us for seven years, and we got a diagnosis for him at the age of three years eight months. Life is not always easy: we have faced and overcome many challenges with him, yet overall the experience is very rewarding.Challenges Daily life can be challenging at times: we need to be aware of how our actions will affect him. He doesn’t like change, so we have to introduce new things gradually to give him the chance to get used to them.He loves toy dogs and clocks and

has built up quite a collection of them which he likes to share with visitors - we have to stop him dragging everyone up to his room to

admire them, including the meter reader! He is generally a happy child with a great sense of humour.

Careful what you say! We have to think about how we say things as he can take us literally. For example, when I said that I was going to feed his sister, who is nine, he was quite surprised, until I explained myself.Time out As a couple we must make time for ourselves so he goes for respite fairly regularly so we can have some time off.I found this book to be a very

interesting mix of personal experiences and professional input. A particular point of interest is the different types of autism, which we were unaware of. I was especially interested in the Atypical type, as we care for a girl who is showing signs but has yet to receive a diagnosis. I found the chapter on diet to be quite complicated to follow but I can see that anyone who has been affected by allergies would find this interesting.

Sandra Merritt shares how she got on with Autism: A practical guide to improving your child’s quality of life, by Jonathan and Polly Tommey

(Piatkus) £12.99 ISBN: 9780749942380Book

review

“The experience is very rewarding”

Changing your routine

Food and Health Summer 2011 foster families 13

Food and Health Summer 2011 foster families 12

Chris Graham gives her top tips on the whipping method

Whipping Egg WhitesMeet the Chef

Chris Graham is a qualified nurse, teacher of cookery, nutrition, life skills and parenting.

She now lectures in food safety and gives time to counselling and mentoring.

Whipping egg whitesThe whipping method involves separating the yolks from the whites, and whipping up the egg whites. This is the basis for meringues, souffles, mousses, fluffy omelettes and fat-less sponge cakes, such as

swiss rolls and roulade. I have decided to give you three easy recipes to try: Almond Macaroons, Mini Pavlova Meringues, and Queen of Sheba pudding. Cracking timeI use the shell of the egg itself, so wipe your eggs over first with a damp paper towel. Have two dishes ready to collect the egg yolks and the egg whites separately, and another dish to crack the egg over. Each egg white should be collected in a small dish first, then if successful, transferred over to the main bowl ready to be whisked. The unsuccessful ones will be added to the egg yolk bowl.

Show your foster child how to break the egg and separate it first, then let them try. You will probably need some extras! All interested family members can try too, and make an ‘I dare you’ game out if it so that there is no sense of failure if things don’t go to plan. Just be sure to wash up the individual bowl when the egg yolk ends up in it. All greasy hands should be washed, as well as the equipment. Take the egg and cradle it in your hand. If it helps, imagine the egg to be Humpty Dumpty and crack it with one sharp, but not too heavy, crack about where Humpty’s belt would be i.e. across the fattest part of the shell(see our video tip at

www.fosterfamilies.co.uk). Use a thin bladed knife to do the job as it gives the cleanest result. If the crack is not quite open enough, try again in the same place, but be careful not to split the yolk. Fresh eggs are best for this exercise as the yolk is less fragile and the whites whip up thicker. Next hold the egg with the fingertips of both hands into the crack. Gently prise the egg shell apart, catching the yolk in the ‘cup’ of the shell and letting the egg white slip into the individual bowl. Cheer if successful and put the yolk in the yolk bowl and the white in the whipping bowl. Who is going to dare to have the next turn?!Eggs that won’t cooperateIf the yolks are not needed for the recipe (as they will be for queen of puddings) mix the yolks and whites together with a little milk, some salt and pepper, and it will make a lovely rich and creamy omelette.

Chris’s Top Tip: Wash everything up in hot soapy water, rinse, then dry with a clean drying up cloth before starting to whip up the egg whites. They will not whip up stiff and fluffy if there is any trace of grease on the equipment.

NEW!Have you seen our online video

tips? Visitwww.fosterfamilies.co.uk/

cookery.html to see Chris show you how it’s done!

Almond Macaroons Mini Pavlova Meringues Queen of Sheba pudding

All these delicious recipes can be found in our full version. Download it from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html

Competitions Summer 2011 foster families 15

Competitions Summer 2011 foster families 14

Kids Corner!

That’s horrible!

Horrible Histories has returned, packed full of strange facts, rotten rulers, gory battles, crazy inventions and weird and wonderful moments from the past. Horrible Histories again covers every era from the Stone Age to World War Two, with new additions including terrible tales from the Incredible Incas and the Awesome USA. From Slimy Stuarts to Groovy Greeks and Awful Egyptians to Gorgeous Georgians, each episode features a mixture of sketches from different ages, plus commentary from the show’s talented host, a talking rat. The DVD runs for 390 mins and is priced at £13.27.

Look out for: More comedy songs, plus Victorian Dragon’s Den, Historical Mastermind and Roman Come Dine With Me.

Welcome to the world of Nara; a land of happiness, laughter and friendship that’s home to the Piplings. Join in the magic and adventure in Piplings Love To Care on DVD, priced £7.14.

Eight episodes of the CBeebies favourite include: lots of important lessons to be learnt when a windy day causes Nok Tok’s Naracar to be blown faster and faster, Lau Lau finds a pretty star and the Piplings play a game of Narabug Chase. De Li needs everyone’s help to water her entire garden on a very hot day in Nara and Nok Tok is searching for a special sound for his Naracar.

14 63 35 28 7 49 77 56 42 21

Number CornerThe numbers in the box

below go up in 7’s from 7 to 77. Can you work out which

number is missing?

Letter CornerThe letters below spell out

the names of two Waybuloo characters. Can you work out

which ones?

K K O O N T _ _ _ _ _ _A U L U L A_ _ _ _ _ _

Now’s your chance to win Horrible Histories series two on DVD - there are two up for grabs

Get your hands on the new Waybuloo DVD - there are two to win

Way to go, Waybuloo!

To enter our competition email your name, address and answer to competitions@fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Waybuloo’*. The first two correct entries drawn on August 10th 2011 will win.

To enter our competition email your name, address and answer to competitions@fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Horrible Histories’*. All entries must be in by August 10th 2011. The first two correct entries drawn on that date will win.

2 to win

2 to win

*or post to Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB.

Competitions Summer 2011 foster families 15

Competitions Summer 2011 foster families 14

O

N

N

D

G R A

C D E

I T R

How many words can you make using the letters in the box? You can only use each letter once, but they can be used in any order. There is at least one nine-letter word to be found!

Can you fit the letters below into the grid to make four words reading the same across and down? Four letters

have been put in to help you.

D D E E E E E G N N N N

O O V S

Letter challenge... Word puzzles to get you thinkingAnagram cluesThe answers to these clues are anagrams of the words immediately above and below, plus or minus one letter:

1. Enraged 2. Warning3. Variety4. Your mum’s mum5. Consistently remind6. Pull a thread7. “Ow, that _ _ _ _ _!”8. Funds, subsidies9. Peculiar

_ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _

COMPETITION

For your chance to win, use the questions, left, to fill out the crossword. Rearrange the coloured squares to spell out a word and email it to competitions@fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Maxi-Cosi’, or post it to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. Don’t forget to include your name and address. The first correct entry drawn on August 10th 2011 will win the prize.

Win

The new Maxi-Cosi Noa buggy is the perfect travelling partner for you and your family, with all you need to help make travelling anywhere

easy. It’s sturdy yet lightweight - a great holiday alternative. Your little one can sit happily in the comfortable seat, away from the sunshine with the reclining backrest and integral protective canopy.

There is also a good-sized basket for all your essentials.Easy to fold: Push it over and pick it up by the retractable handle in one fluid movement.

Pack it away: Once folded the small, funky, buggy can also stand upright - easy for travelling or putting neatly away at home.Travel stress free with the Maxi-Cosi Noa. The only decision you now have to

make is, where you are going?Foster Families has teamed with Maxi-Cosi to give you the chance to win a Noa Buggy. Just enter the competition below. RRP £145.00, and suitable from 3 months

Across

1. Danny, the ________ of the World, kids book (8) 5. Opposite of teaching (8) 10. Something to be dropped off at your home (8) 11. Animated film, Ice Age 2: The _________ (8)

Down

1. The ____ before the storm (4) 2. Station master in Postman Pat (4) 3. A frog’s home (4) 4. Possesses (4) 6. Your school may have a Summer ____ (4) 7. Give us a clue (4) 8. 2001 Enrique Iglesias single (4) 9. Almost turquoise (4)

There’s Noa other like itYou could win this funky buggy

Small enough to get on the bus or train

without folding it!

Fold it down in

seconds, one-handed

For more information visit www.maxi-cosi.com

2 to win

         

   

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