Previously looked after children - Print version

Previously looked after children: information and advice for schools and education settings

Local authorities have a duty under section 23ZZA of the Children Act 1989 (inserted by section 4 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017) to promote the educational achievement of previously looked-after children in their area by providing information and advice to:

• any person that has parental responsibility for the child;
• providers of funded early years education, designated teachers for previously looked-after children in maintained schools and academies; and
• any other person the authority considers appropriate for promoting the educational achievement of relevant children

Coventry's Virtual School is able to give educational information and advice to parents, guardians and education settings of previously looked-after children attending maintained schools and academies based in Coventry. Maintained schools and academies must have a designated teacher responsible for previously looked-after children.

A previously looked-after child (PLAC) is a child who was in care to an English or Welsh local authority at the point at which they were adopted, made subject to a Special Guardianship Order (SGO), or a Child Arrangements Order (previously Residency Order). Children who were adopted from state care elsewhere in the world are also previously looked-after children, but do not qualify for the Pupil Premium Plus.

We are able to give information and advice for most ages, from the term after the child turns two until the end of statutory education, Year 11 (which is currently the last Friday in June when the child has turned sixteen, or will do by the end of the summer break).

Previously looked-after children sometimes have additional educational needs compared to other children and we are here to offer information and advice.

Guidance for maintained schools and academies

Designated teacher for looked after and previously looked-after children on GOV.UK [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-teacher-for-looked-after-children]

Unique Pupil Number

It is standard practice for children adopted from care to be issued with a new Unique Pupil Number (UPN) to break the link between the pre-adoption and post-adoption record. Page 13 of the Unique Pupil Numbers guidance on GOV.UK [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668524/UPN_Guide.pdf] gives guidance about a new UPN for adopted children.

How you promote educational achievement

You may find the following publication a helpful starting point.

Meeting the needs of adopted and permanently placed children: A guide for school staff on PAC UK [http://www.pac-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Meeting-the-needs-of-adopted-and-permanently-placed-children-A-guide-for-school-staff.pdf]

Personal Education Plans (PEP)

There’s no statutory requirement for a PEP for previously looked after children. However, you should have regular meetings with the child and their parents, guardians or carers to:

• discuss the child’s educational strengths and needs
• record all agreed actions

Meetings with parents, guardians and carers of previously looked after children could be recorded on these forms:

• Personal Education Plan for an adopted child [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/34157/personal_education_plan_for_an_adopted_child]
• Personal education Plan for a child who's left care [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/download/6430/personal_education_plan_for_child_whos_left_care]

Funding for previously looked after children

Funding is available to support the education of any previously looked-after child (i.e.has been in the care of the local authority and then adopted in England or Wales, subject to an SGO or child arrangement order) from when the child begins early years provision through to them finishing compulsory education, where the child is in provision funded in part or in full by the state in maintained schools or academies.

The school will receive PLAC funding from central Government in the same way they do for pupil premium. Those adopted outside of England and Wales are not eligible. In order for the school to receive this money parents must self-declare that they have a previously looked-after child. The head teacher should request sight of the legal paperwork, it may be a court order or certificate.

Please note parents are not obliged to declare this information and schools need to be sensitive to the confidential nature of this information. The school will then record this information on the October school census and receive the funding in the following financial year along with the FSM pupil premium. If a child is not recorded as PLAC for the October census then they will not receive the funding. (This has recently changed from January to October [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium])

The Coventry Virtual School is able to advise schools on what it may spend the funding on. It is best practice to involve parents or carers in expenditure decisions given the additional needs of post looked-after children.

Previously looked after children: information and advice for parents, guardians and carers

What you can expect for your previously looked after child from an early years setting or school.

Early years education for two to four year olds

If your child is two, three or four years old find out more about early education funding [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/360/parents/2054/parents_and_carers_-_2_3_and_4_year_old_early_education_funding].

How to find the best early years setting for your child

Before you choose an early years setting you can:

• check the Ofsted inspection report [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/?beta_opt_out=1]
• Find a childcare provider [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/earlyyearschildcare]

You can also look at an individual setting’s website and arrange a visit.

Early Years Pupil Premium

Previously looked after children aged three and four years-old are eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP). You'll need to show evidence of the Court Order that proves that the child was in local authority care in either England or Wales.

School aged children

How to find the best school for your child

Before you choose a school you can:

• check the Ofsted inspection report [https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/?beta_opt_out=1]
• see the school admissions web pages [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/schooladmissions]
• if your child has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), see the special educational needs and disabilities school admissions process [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/info/157/coventrys_special_educational_needs_and_disability_send_local_offer/2373/school_education_for_children_with_special_education_needs_and_disabilities/6]. There's a different admissions process for children with SEND.

You can also look at an individual school’s website and arrange a visit.

When you apply for your child’s school place

When you apply for a school place you will be asked if your child:

• was adopted from care in England or Wales on an Adoption Order
• was adopted from state care outside England and Wales, state care is care provided by a public authority, a religious organisation, or any other organisation whose sole or main purpose is to benefit society
• left care in England and Wales on a Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangements Order

The Order must still be current.

You don’t have to tell anyone that your child was previously looked after, but your child won’t have priority in getting a school place if you don’t.
You’ll be asked to provide evidence that your child was previously looked after, for example the Court Order.

Funding for your school age child: Pupil Premium Plus

If your previously looked after child is in Year R to Y11 at a maintained school or academy, the school could get extra funding called Pupil Premium Plus [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2020-to-2021/pupil-premium-conditions-of-grant-2020-to-2021].

You'll be asked to provide evidence to the school that your child:

• was adopted from care in England or Wales on an Adoption Order
• left care in England and Wales on a Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangements Order

If your child moves school you'll need to do this again. The school must treat this information as confidential.

You have the right not to tell the school that your child is previously looked after. However, if you don't tell the school your child won't benefit from the funding.

Adopted children are only entitled to Pupil Premium Plus funding if they were adopted from an English or Welsh local authority on leaving care.

Other sources of advice and information

Every maintained school and academy must have a designated teacher for previously looked after children [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-teacher-for-looked-after-children] who provides information, advice and support. They should be a good person to talk to in the first instance.

Adoption support

• Adoption UK [https://www.adoptionuk.org/]: national charity providing support and information for adoptive families
• PAC UK [https://www.pac-uk.org/education/]: information and advice for parents about previously looked after children

Supporting Children Previously Looked After (CPLA)

From September 2018, schools have had a duty to ensure the wellbeing of those children on roll who are classed as PLAC as well as LAC.

Coventry Virtual School is able to offer support and guidance to Schools and Parents with CPLA.

How can we help?

• Advice, training and support to professionals, schools, colleges and families who have a child who is CPLA.
• Be part of the final Personal Education Plan (PEP) for each child as they leave care.
• Work creatively with parents, carers, and schools within Coventry to help overcome any barriers to successful learning.
• Support the transitions of children where a change of school takes place and also year to year within a school.
• Support parents and carers with planning for the education of their children, and to signpost to other sources of support, information and advice.
• Advocate for the child in progressing their learning opportunities.

Parents and carers

• Make contact with the school via the designated teacher or headteacher to notify them their child is CPLA.
• Work in partnership with their child’s school to ensure the best education opportunities and any barriers to learning are identified and overcome.
• Share any useful resources or information with the school.

Schools

• Comply with national guidance [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-teacher-for-looked-after-children]
• Ensure the wellbeing of those children on roll who are classed as CPLA, recognising that they may be impacted by early childhood adverse experiences.
• Have a named member of staff with responsibility for promoting the educational achievement of CPLA and share this on the school website.
• Ensure the October census reflects those children who are CPLA.
• Review policies and procedures to ensure they reflect the needs and challenges of CPLA.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding the background of CPLA.
• Prioritise children previously looked after for school places.
• Involve parents/carers in decisions about their child’s education.
• Ensure the best education opportunities and any barriers to learning are identified, exploring all avenues of support so as to avoid exclusion.
• Consider provision for all CPLA including those who are more able.

Good communication and multi-agency working are essential in helping achieve the best possible outcomes.

We want to ensure that all looked after children and those leaving care, reach their full potential and enjoy the same opportunities in life as their peers.