New ways of supporting children who are not able to attend school on a full-time basis

PaCC are pleased to announce that Norman Haskins has recently been appointed as the Hidden Children Officer for Brighton & Hove.

‘Hidden Children’ are children and young people who are unable to attend school on a full-time basis for a variety of reasons, including:

• those who are on part-time timetables
• pupils who have no suitable school they can attend
• children who are emotionally unable to attend school
• children who have been excluded from school
• children with medical needs
• young carers

These children can become vulnerable as a result.

Norman’s role includes identifying and supporting children and young people who are unable to attend school on a full-time basis and helping to ensure that all children are receiving an appropriate education that meets their needs. He will be advocating for children and young people and ensuring their voices and needs are central to everything. He will also champion the needs of the families in our city.

Norman will be working closely with PaCC as part of his role, the first step being co-producing an action plan with other stakeholders in the city. In the coming weeks and months, Norman would like to meet the parent carer community so he can listen to and understand the different educational experiences children and young people have, had or are having, so he can explain more about his role and vision. PaCC will be helping to facilitate this.

Norman says: “Thank you for giving me an opportunity to introduce myself to members of PaCC.

I have been a teacher for just over 25 years. During this time, I have worked in mainstream and specialist schools (moderate to severe learning needs, and Speech Communication and Language needs). For the last two years, I have worked as a SENCO and an Inclusion Manager in a 3-form primary school in Croydon.

I am passionate about working with young people who face a variety of challenges. From personal experience, I know how difficult it can be, when everything seems so challenging, especially when supporting a young person who has a range of needs, in education.

 I want to forge closer relationships between schools, families, and other services in the local authority. Making these connections and ‘thinking outside of the box’ is the key to ensuring success for all our young people, no matter the need. This will form the basis of my role as the Hidden Children Officer for Brighton & Hove City Council.”