First preference primary school places offered to 91% of Reading families
Ninety-one per cent of Reading parents have been offered a place at their first preference primary school for their child this year.
And 98% of Reading parents have been offered one of their top three preferred primary schools.
Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), which delivers education services in Reading, has ensured all primary school pupils in the borough have a place for September.
BFfC received 1,727 applications for primary school places this year compared with 1,844 in 2022.
The number of families being offered their first preference school increased from 89% last year.
A transfer from infant to junior school was needed for 132 pupils in Reading and 97% of on-time applicants received their first preference.
Brian Grady, Director of Education at BFfC, said: “I am delighted we have been able to offer almost all Reading families a place at one of their top three preferred primary schools this year.
“We have also worked hard to make sure a place was found for every child whose parents applied for a primary school place in Reading.
“We send our best wishes to all the children who will be experiencing the excitement of starting in their primary school this September.”
Reading primary school offers 2023-2022
| Offers | 2023
(%) |
2022
(%) |
2023
(pupil numbers) |
2022
(pupil numbers) |
| 1st preference | 91% | 89% | 1,574 | 1,641 |
| 2nd preference | 6% | 6.5% | 99 | 120 |
| 3rd preference | 1% | 2% | 19 | 36 |
| 4th preference | 0.5% | 0.5% | 9 | 9 |
| Offered divert | 1.5% | 2% | 26 | 38 |
Give the gift of home this Christmas
A festive campaign encouraging Reading people to consider giving the gift of home to a vulnerable child has been launched by Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) this week.
The 12 Days of Christmas social media campaign highlights the fact that individuals or families could be fostering a child and giving them a stable, safe, loving home next Christmas if they enquire now.
Each day the campaign will be focusing on a different aspect of fostering, such as the attributes you need, the benefits of having a foster child in your life and busting some fostering myths.
The campaign on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn started on Tuesday 13 December and will run until Christmas Eve.
Di Smith, Board Chair of BFfC, said: “Christmas is a time for giving and I cannot think of many better gifts than providing a vulnerable child or young person with a safe, loving home.
“Friends and family are particularly in our thoughts at this time of year but sadly there are children who will not be experiencing the magic and joy of Christmas they deserve.
“We need more foster carers in Reading to ensure vulnerable Reading children can stay close to their families and friends. If you enquire about fostering with us now, you could be giving a child or young person their best ever Christmas next year.”
BFfC’s Fostering service is an Ofsted rated ‘Good’ provider which operates as a not-for-profit agency on behalf of Reading Borough Council.
Please visit: https://www.readingfostering.co.uk/, email: foster@brighterfuturesforchildren.org or phone: 0118 469 3020 for more information about fostering.
First preference primary school places offered to 89% of Reading families
Almost 90% of Reading parents have been offered their first preference of primary school for their child this year.
Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), which delivers education services in Reading, has ensured all primary school pupils in the borough have a place for September.
Ninety-eight per cent of Reading parents have been offered one of their top three preferences and 89% were offered their first, compared to 90% last year. Only two per cent of parents were not offered one of their preferences, the same as last year.
BFfC received 1,844 applications for primary school places this year compared with 1800 in 2021. However, the number of applications received after the deadline has brought the figure close to the forecast number of 1,978. Late applications have still to be processed.
There were 148 pupils who needed an infant to junior school transfer this year. Reading has only two schools for which this transfer is necessary and 100% of on-time applicants received their first preference.
Deborah Glassbrook, Executive Director of Children’s Services at BFfC, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer so many Reading families a place for their child in one of their three preferred primary schools this year. And almost 90% have been offered their first preference.
“It is such an exciting time for families when their children start primary school and we send our very best wishes to them for their big day in September.
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our wonderful primary schools in Reading for all their amazing hard work over the last two challenging years.”
Reading primary school place offers 2022/2021
| 2022
(%) |
2021
(%) |
2022
(pupil numbers) |
2021
(pupil numbers) |
|
| 1st preference offers | 88.85 | 89.73 | 1641 | 1625 |
| 2nd preference offers | 6.5 | 5.36 | 120 | 97 |
| 3rd preference offers | 1.95 | 1.66 | 36 | 30 |
| 4th preference offers | 0.49 | 0.5 | 9 | 9 |
| Pupils offered divert | 2.11 | 2.15 | 38 | 39 |
BFfC supports LGBT+ Adoption & Fostering Week 2022
Brighter Futures for Children’s (BFfC) fostering service in Reading – which is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted -is supporting a national campaign to encourage more members of the LGBT+ community to consider becoming foster carers.
LGBT+ Adoption & Fostering Week, starting 7 March, aims to raise awareness and drive change by increasing the number of LGBT+ people caring for children looked after.
The theme of this year’s campaign is #BeTheChange and asks LGBT+ people to think about the range of vulnerable children they could parent or care for.
BFfC, the independent, not-for-profit company which runs children’s services on behalf of Reading Borough Council, is keen to dispel myths that could be deterring some people from becoming foster carers.
Some questions regularly asked by people enquiring about fostering in Reading are:
Q. I’m gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans/LGBTQ+, can I foster?
A. Yes, we welcome foster carers from all backgrounds and people of any gender or sexuality can foster. Having a varied life experience, such as coming out as gay or lesbian, is one of the important elements a foster carer can bring to the role.
Q. I’m single, can I foster alone?
A. Absolutely, you can be single, married or in a relationship and you can still foster with us.
Q. I don’t have children, can I foster?
A. Yes, you can. We will discuss with you what kind of experience you have of working with children and caring. If you think you need more experience, volunteering with a local childcare service is a great option.
Q. Do I need to own my home?
A. No you don’t. As long as you have a spare room and space for a child you can own or rent your home.
Q. What are the main criteria for fostering in Reading?
A. You need to be over 21, have a spare room, be a UK resident and live within 20 miles of Reading.
Deborah Glassbrook, Executive Director of Children’s Services, said: “There is no such thing as a typical foster carer in Reading. We have people from many different backgrounds doing an amazing job of caring for our children in care.
“It doesn’t matter about your gender, sexuality, age, race, living arrangements or employment status. If you’re over 21, care about children, have a spare room and want to make a real difference for children, we want to hear from you.”
BFfC’s fostering service has just been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted. Inspectors said there was a wide range of support on offer to foster carers, including additional training, access to specialist clinical advice and support groups.
If you are interested in finding out more about fostering, visit www.readingfostering.co.uk, call 0118 469 3020 or email foster@brighterfuturesforchildren.org.
For more information about LGBT+ Adoption & Fostering Week, visit the New Family Social website: New Family Social - LGBT+ Adoption & Fostering Week 2022
ENDS
Read the press release about the recent Ofsted inspection of BFfC’s fostering service at: https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/bffc_fostering_good/.
Keeping teenagers, like Jade, rooted in Reading
Jade first came into care when she was nine years old. She was picked up from school by her social worker and taken to the home of a foster couple, David and Elaine. Jade says:
‘I was scared and I didn’t know what was happening. But they explained it to me and we sat down, ate brownies and watched the football which was nice.’
Jade wasn’t able to go back to her mum and dad so she stayed with David and Elaine for a year and a half. After this, she was matched with a long-term foster carer, Angela, who she was set to stay with until she reaches the age of 18.
‘Angela was really friendly and held a ‘Welcome to the family’ party for me with her sons and lots of cake which was really fun. It wasn’t as scary going to Angela’s as I had met her a few times before while I was still with David and Elaine.’
‘I’m really lucky because I live with Angela, my foster carer, in Reading, which means I’m close to my friends and family. Angela is a good foster carer and I still see my family lots.’
Jade is now 17 and is classed as a ‘care leaver’. That means she is currently working towards building her independent living skills, ready to support herself as an adult. She will be ‘staying put’ with Angela, which means she can stay with her until she’s 21.
Jade says:
‘I’m really proud of how far I’ve come. When I was younger and first came into care, I was really shy. My foster carer helped me learn how to voice my opinions and understand what I wanted. I also used to be scared of speaking in public but now I’m not. I feel a lot more confident today. I finished school, which I found really hard, and I’m now studying at college.’
At Brighter Futures for Children, we’re proud of Jade too. We’re proud of all our young people who work hard, alongside us, to turn their lives around in care. But at the moment, we don’t have enough foster carers in Reading to look after teenagers.
Could you give a teenager like Jade a loving home and a brighter future?
Learn more about fostering in Reading: www.readingfostering.co.uk
Email: foster@brighterfuturesforchildren.org
Call: 0118 469 3020
"I'm a foster sibling and I love making a difference"
Isabelle is 18 and has been a foster sibling to many babies and children in care over the past ten years at their Reading home.
Georgia and Sam, Isabelle’s parents, decided they wanted to take up fostering when she was eight and her brothers were 11 and 13. They spoke about how fostering would work for them as a family and started off looking after children under five years old.
Georgia and Sam then agreed they would always try to have children within five years of Isabelle’s age. ‘She was always a very hands on sibling, even back then!,’ they laughed.
So, what was it actually like growing up as a foster sister? Isabelle was happy to explain. ‘We have always loved looking after the children and we make sure we take them on nice days out and set up different activities. I have liked everything about fostering and we work well as a family to help care for the children.’
Brighter Futures for Children runs a fun group for foster siblings called the ‘Foster Squad’ and Isabelle and her two brothers have joined in with their activities. Her parents are active members of Reading Carers’ Link, a support group for Reading’s foster carers, and so they are family friends with the children of lots of other carers too.
Isabelle’s family does short-term, respite and emergency fostering. What was that like as a sibling? ‘We hope they will always feel like part of our family for the duration of their stay and I think this is important,’ Isabelle explained, ‘and we are still in touch with lots of them!’.
Has being a foster sibling influenced Isabelle in her life? It certainly seems so! She says: ‘Fostering gave me lots of skills and experience with children and made me want to work with them. I am now training to be an early years practitioner at a local nursery. I enjoy fostering and I’m looking forward to meeting lots of new children over the years and making a difference to their lives.’
Reading part of a pilot for a new UK government emergency alert system
The UK government is introducing a new Emergency Alerts system that will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone when lives are in danger.
To ensure the Emergency Alerts system works effectively, the government will be carrying out a series of tests. The first test will be in Reading on Tuesday 29 June, between 1pm and 2pm.
The Emergency Alert will be used to warn you in emergencies such as severe flooding or terror attacks.
Many people in Reading at that time on that day with a modern mobile phone that is switched on could receive a message, and their phone will ring and vibrate even if it is set to silent. It is based on location not residency so it will affect everyone in the area, even if they are just passing through.
Emergency Alerts are sent to all compatible mobile phones within an area of risk. They don’t track your location, need your phone number, or collect personal data. Only the government and the emergency services will be able to send them. If you don’t have a mobile phone, you’ll still be kept informed through other channels.
If you get an Emergency Alert on your phone, you’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound. A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond. You’ll be able to check an alert is genuine at gov.uk/alerts.
If you receive a test alert, you won’t need to do anything on this occasion. If you receive one in the future, read the alert carefully and follow the instructions.
Following the test, please complete the user survey at gov.uk/alerts so we can gather and respond to feedback and make improvements to Emergency Alerts.
To find out more about Emergency Alerts, visit gov.uk/alerts.
First choice primary school places offered to 90% of Reading children
Ninety per cent of Reading parents have been offered their first choice of primary school for their child this year.
Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC), which delivers education services in Reading, has ensured all primary school pupils in the borough have a place for September.
The number of first choice offers has increased from 83% last year and 97% of Reading parents have been offered one of their top three preferences, compared with 95% in 2020. Only two per cent of parents were not offered one of their preferences compared with three per cent last year.
BFfC received 1,804 applications for primary school places this year compared with 2,042 in 2020. However, the number of applications received after the deadline has brought the figure close to the forecast number of 1,948. Late applications have still to be processed
There were 145 pupils who needed an infant to junior school transfer this year. Reading has only two schools for which this transfer is necessary and 100% of on-time applicants received their first preference.
Prof Dr Kate Reynolds, Director of Education at BFfC, said: “We are pleased to be able to offer so many Reading families a place in one of their top three primary school choices this year and delighted that 90% have received their first choice.
“Pupil numbers can fluctuate year to year for various reasons and I would like to thank our school admissions team for ensuring all primary school pupils in the borough have a place for September.
“I would also like to personally thank Reading’s brilliant primary schools for the amazing work they have done for their pupils and families throughout the pandemic. It will be such an exciting time for all children starting at their primary schools in September and I send them our very best wishes.”
Reading primary school place offers 2021/2020
| 2021
(%) |
2020
(%) |
2021
(pupil numbers) |
2020
(pupil numbers) |
|
| 1st preference offers | 89.73 | 83.44 | 1625 | 1753 |
| 2nd preference offers | 5.36 | 8.85 | 97 | 186 |
| 3rd preference offers | 1.66 | 2.76 | 30 | 58 |
| 4th preference offers | 0.5 | 1.19 | 9 | 25 |
| Pupils offered divert | 2.15 | 3.33 | 39 | 70 |
Parents can find more details of primary school admissions at: https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/schools/admissions/primary/
Campaign to find more Reading foster carers for teenagers
One year ago, Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) planted a tree in Town Hall Square in partnership with Ethical Reading, Reading Borough Council and the Reading Tree Wardens.
The tree-planting, on 17 February 2020, was the brainwave of a 15-year-old boy, Nick*, who suggested it be planted to help young people in care, like him, who have had to move away from Reading to feel ‘rooted’ in the town. The cherry blossom tree stands tall outside Reading Town Hall and is now adorned with solar lights for some extra sparkle in the darker months.
BFfC has more than 270 children and young people in its care. Some of these young people, like Nick, have to live outside Reading because there is a shortage of Reading-based foster carers.
BFfC is launching a campaign to find more local foster carers, particularly for teenagers, so more young people in care can stay in Reading, where they belong. The campaign tells the story of Jade*, a 17-year-old girl, who has been in care since she was nine.
Jade said: “I’m really lucky because I live with my foster carer in Reading which means I’m close to my friends and family.”
Could you help a young person like Jade stay rooted in Reading by becoming a foster carer? To become a foster carer, you need a space in your heart for young people and a spare room in your home. BFfC provides good training and recognises the value of its foster carers with a financial package.
Read Jade’s story at: www.readingfostering.co.uk/stories.
Contact BFfC’s fostering team by email foster@brighterfuturesforchildren.org or call 0118 469 3020.
*Names have been changed to protect identities
Celebrating success - our care leaver braving changes
Being taken into care when you’re young can make the world a confusing place - from trying to understand what’s happened to you, what you’ve just experienced and witnessed, to working out who you really are and where you belong.
For one of our Reading care leavers, this journey took place during their teenage years.
Already facing the various challenges that come from transitioning from childhood to adolescence; making new friends, being exposed to different people from various backgrounds, on top of dealing with the experience they’d just encountered, they then had the courage to take on an even harder journey.
Instead of going through life living with something that didn’t feel right, they recognised who they were and who they wanted to be and made the brave decision to transition to the opposite gender.
This is a difficult decision and journey for anyone to go through, never mind when there is limited support around you.
Alongside managing this transition, our care leaver continued to do well at school, achieving brilliant GSCE grades and A-levels and is now studying hard at university.
We’re immensely proud of how this care leaver conducted themselves through the journey of change, being true to themselves and following what they felt was right, even with the knowledge that not everyone may agree or understand their decision.
They made important life choices, had the courage and determination to stick with them and through all this, headed off to university to start a new life.
They should be incredibly proud of themselves and we wish them all the best in their fantastic future ahead!