‘Unlocking Potential: Supporting Children in Care and their Carers in Education’
The Irish Foster Care Association hosted a webinar on education called ‘Unlocking Potential: Supporting Children in Care and their Carers in Education’ on Wednesday 17th September 2025.
There was a panel of wonderful speakers who shared the wealth of their experience of supporting and caring for, and working with, children and young people in care as they negotiate the challenges of taking part in learning and school life. They provided a morning full of practical day-to-day strategies, responses and resources as well as raising questions and responses about how we understand, plan for and resource education for children and young people in care.
Corrinne Hasson, CEO of IFCA, gave the introductions and opening and closing remarks and manage the Questions and Answers session with the whole panel.
Tara Ciric, Tara Ćirić is a PhD candidate in the Department of Education in Maynooth University: “Do Ya Get Me?”: Experience and Expertise on Education and Care from Children in Residential Care
Sarah Lloyd, Specialist Occupational Therapist and Play Therapist and Author of the BUSS Model: What Do We Mean when We Talk about School Readiness: How an Understanding of Bodily Regulation might Support our Thinking and Planning in Early Years
Maria O’Connell, formerly Principal of St. Finnian’s National School, Finglas, a Nurture School, now Principal of Scoil Cholmcille Nationla School, Ballybrack: A Relational Approach to Creating a School Environment that Nurtures and Supports Children to Reach their Potential in School
Anne McCluskey, Attachment and Trauma Trainer, foster carer and retired primary school Principal: Schools: Partners in Foster Care
Tara Madden, Education Project Manager, EPIC: Take Care: Empowering Schools to Support Children in Care
Thank you also to our audience of foster carers, educators, fostering and allied practitioners and policy makers who showed the extent of the concern and commitment that there is to improving outcomes for children in care in education through their many questions and comments throughout the session.
Here is the link to the full recording of all the presentations to be viewed in your own time or shared:
If you would like a copy of the handouts from the webinar please email learning@ifca.ie
IFCA continues to promote greater understanding of the needs of children in care in education and to advocate for the appropriate educational responses and resources.
IFCA has made 3 submissions on education. You can find these here:
Submission to the Department of Education & Youth on the National Conversation on Education.
Submission to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Review of the National Primary School Curriculum: IFCA’s Views of the Opportunities Offered by the BUSS Model.
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Irish Foster Care Association
