Looked After Children

Introduction: 

As a school, we believe that all members of the school community should be esteemed, cared for, treated courteously and encouraged to make their unique contribution.  As part of our commitment to ‘Live & Learn’, each person is highly valued regardless of any differences or background. We aim to develop understanding and respect for each other’s faith, culture and language, and to teach, exemplify and uphold equal opportunities for all. 

Aims: 

• Prioritising education set within an inclusive context which makes reasonable 

       adjustments to ensure a personalised curriculum 

• Listening to the Looked-After and Previously Looked-After Child 

• Working closely with home, voluntary and statutory agencies 

• Promoting attendance, through a programme of early intervention, priority 

       action, reducing exclusions and promoting stability within a positive learning 

       environment 

• Identifying need, including social and emotional as well as learning needs or 

       gifted and talented skills and abilities 

• Targeting support, including accessing resources from other agencies as well 

       as provision from school resources 

• Having high expectations 

Every Child Matters Outcomes Framework 

Enjoy and Achieve: 

• Attend and enjoy school 

• Achieve educational standards that compare with their peers 

• Achieve personal and social development and enjoy recreation 
   

Achieve economic well-being: 

• Children in care are supported to engage in further education, employment or training Post 16 
   

Make a positive contribution: 

• Children are consulted and listened to 

• Children engage in positive behaviour in and out of school 
   

Stay safe: 

• Children are free from bullying 

• Children are free from anti-social behaviour 
   

Be healthy: 

• Healthy lifestyles are promoted for children in care 

Definition: Who are our Children in Care?

Most Children in Care will be living in foster homes but a smaller number may be in a children’s home, living with a relative or even be placed back at home with their parent(s) sharing parental responsibility with the Local Authority.

Under the Children Act 1989, a child is in the Care of the Local Authority if he or she is provided with accommodation for more than 24 hours by the Authority. This includes the following:

1. Children who are accommodated by the Local Authority under a voluntary agreement with their parents;
2. Children who are the subject of a Care Order or Interim Care Order;
3. Children who are the subject of Emergency Orders for the protection of the child.

Legal Framework

• From 1 September 2009 all Governing Bodies were required under the Children’s and Young Persons Act of 2008, to appoint a Designated Teacher to promote the educational achievement of Children in Care.
• The Families Act of 2014 also required all Local Authorities to appoint a Virtual School Headteacher to ensure that the educational achievement of Children in Care was seen as a priority and to ensure arrangements were in place to improve their educational outcomes.
• Previous legislation and guidance from the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Department for Education (DfE) and the Department of Health (DH) requires schools to have effective policies for supporting and promoting the education of Children in Care.
   

Schools requirements:

• Ensure access to a balanced and broadly based education for all Children in Care;
• Prioritise recording and improving the academic achievement of Children in Care;
• Prioritise a reduction in the number of exclusions and truancies for all Children in Care;
• Ensure there is a (qualified) Designated Teacher to promote the educational achievement of all Children in Care who are on the school roll;
• Develop effective systems of communications and protocols;
• Promote the attendance of Children in Care.

If you require further support or information, please visit the following places:

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/children-in-care-education

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/social-care-health/private-fostering

https://www.bristol.gov.uk/social-care-health/adoption