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Policy: Looked After and Recently Looked After Children

Policy details

Date approved - 02/09/2024
Next review date - 02/09/2025
Policy owner - Daniel Haste

Introduction

Objectives: Our main goal is to support the education and well-being of children in public care, helping them achieve their full potential.

What is a Looked-After Child (LAC) or Previously Looked-After Child (PLAC)?

Not every child cared for by someone other than their biological parents (like aunts or grandparents) is considered a Looked-After Child (LAC). For a child to be classified as LAC, they must be under a care order. This care order can be temporary (interim) or long-term (full).

Parents still hold primary responsibility, but the Local Authority also plays a significant role, acting as a corporate parent.

Previously Looked-After Children (PLAC) are those who were once in care but have since been adopted, or are now under special guardianship or child arrangements orders.

Children Provided with Accommodation

Under the Children Act (Part 3), the Local Authority has a duty to provide accommodation for children in need. This may involve placement with relatives, in foster care, or in another suitable setting. In these cases, the child’s parents maintain full parental rights and can take their children home at any time.

Children in Care

Children enter the care system through court orders when they are at risk of significant harm. Harm can include issues affecting physical or mental health, development, or well-being, and could involve abuse or neglect. If harm is due to a failure in parental care, the Local Authority or NSPCC can apply for a care or supervision order.

Children on care orders may live in various settings, such as:

With foster carers
In a children's home
At a residential school
With relatives
With parents (under supervision)

The Academy's Commitment to Looked-After and Previously Looked-After Children

At Co-op Academy Belle Vue, we are dedicated to supporting the educational progress of Looked-After Children (LAC) and Previously Looked-After Children (PLAC). We ensure that these students receive the attention, care, and resources they need to thrive. To achieve this, we will have:

A Designated CCM for LAC and PLAC
A Designated Teacher for Looked-After and Previously Looked-After Children
Personal Education Plans (PEPs) for all LAC
Ongoing training for staff to support the needs of LAC and PLAC

Designated Teacher:

The Designated Teacher for LAC and PLAC at Co-op Academy Belle Vue is Daniel Haste, Vice Principal. He ensures the school supports these children’s educational progress and emotional well-being, working with all relevant agencies to ensure a smooth learning experience.

Day-to-Day Support:

Joanne Pilling, our Leader of Pastoral CARE, as well as our Child protection officers are responsible for managing daily issues, attending statutory meetings, and completing PEPs. They coordinate with social services, carers, and other agencies and have delegated access to the ePEP system.

Supporting LAC and PLAC in School

We promote a culture where LAC and PLAC are:

Encouraged to set their own learning goals and have their voices heard
Prioritised for one-to-one tutoring or academic support
Included in school activities and decisions
Motivated to achieve and aspire to higher education or skilled employment

The Designated Teacher provides guidance to all staff on how to effectively support LAC and PLAC in the classroom, focusing on personalised teaching strategies and assessments that cater to individual needs.

Role of All Staff

All staff at Co-op Academy Belle Vue will:

Set high expectations for LAC and PLAC
Understand the emotional and psychological effects of being in care
Treat LAC and PLAC as individuals and respect their confidentiality
Understand the importance of the Personal Education Plan (PEP)
Be familiar with the role of social workers, Virtual School Heads, and carers

Role of the Community Council

The Community Council will:

Ensure all Community Council members understand the legal requirements for LAC and PLAC
Appoint a designated teacher for LAC and PLAC
Oversee how the Pupil Premium Plus Grant is used to support these students
Ensure that the needs of LAC and PLAC are met within the school

Responsibilities of the Academy

Co-op Academy Belle Vue will:

Maintain confidentiality for children in care
Address any bullying issues promptly
Notify carers and social workers of absences
Support children with special educational needs
Provide additional academic or pastoral support when needed

Admission and Assessment Procedures

Upon admission, the academy will request records from previous schools and arrange meetings with carers and social workers to complete or update Personal Education Plans (PEPs). Each LAC will have a PEP, updated at least annually, to ensure their educational needs are met.

Involving the Young Person

It’s important that the child understands their personal circumstances are being recorded, and this should be done in a sensitive manner by someone who has established trust. This often happens during the PEP process.

Communication with Other Agencies

When a child enters care, their social worker will inform the school and initiate a PEP. The school will share reports with the social worker and carers, and work together to review the child's progress at statutory meetings.