| Because how well they do at school has such an effect on people’s lives, the government has made laws and rules to improve how looked after children do at school. Here are the main ones (click on the links for more details): * Designated teachers * Virtual headteachers * Changing schools * Exclusion from school * Personal education plans (PEPs) |
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Because how well they do at school has such an effect on people’s lives, the government has made laws and rules to improve how looked after children do at school. |
Designated teachers
There should now be someone called a ‘designated teacher’ at every school. They are there to provide extra help for any looked after children at the school if they need it. They will be involved with writing your personal education plan (PEP).
Virtual headteachers
There are also people called virtual headteachers, which isn’t quite as weird as it sounds. You may never actually meet one, but they are people who keep a check on how schools in an area are supporting looked after children and give them advice about how to help you get the most from school and do well in exams.
The idea is that each local authority employs an experienced teacher to keep an eye on the educational progress of all children looked after by that local authority. The virtual headteacher has in-depth knowledge that means they can give extra support to designated teachers. Sometimes the virtual headteacher will have tough discussions with schools who are reluctant to accept a looked after child, or they might need to get involved when a young person is facing exclusion from school.
Changing schools
Social workers and IROs have to do everything possible to make sure that any changes in your care placements have as little effect on your education as possible.
If you have to move, the local authority has to write in your PEP what extra support they are providing to help you stay in the same school.
If you are in are Year 10 or 11, it’s even more important that your education is not disrupted because you will be studying for GCSEs or other qualifications. The local authority has to prove that they have looked at every way possible to keep you in the same school and they have to write this in your PEP.
If you do have to move school at this stage only a senior person chosen by the Director of Children’s Services can make this decision. They have to be sure your new school or college will help you to do well in your education and they have to ask you what your wishes and feelings are about this decision and take these into account. They also have to discuss this with your IRO and with someone at your school, usually the designated teacher.
Exclusion from school
Permanent exclusion from school of looked after children must be used only as a last resort. From the first day of your exclusion, your local authority should provide another way for you to get good-quality education, but if this can’t be arranged in time then they have up to six days to get it organised.
Personal education plans (PEPs)
Local authorities must make sure you have the right help to do as well as you can in school, and this will be written down in your PEP, which then goes into your care plan. It should say who’s going to help you to do the best you can in your education and how they’ll do it.
Your PEP should be written before you go into care or within 14 days if you go into an emergency placement. It should be ready for your first review meeting, which has to be held before you have been looked after for 20 days.
Here are some of the things that will be in your PEP:
- Details of all the education places you’ve been to; when and how often you went there; what your behaviour was like there; what your achievements were; any special educational needs you have. It will also say what the reasons were for you leaving.
- The education or training place that you are at now.
- Details of any special help given to help you do well. For example this might be one to one tuition where you need help to catch up with school work you’ve missed or are finding difficult. It may also be that you have one to one tuition because you are particularly good at something and need help to do even better.
- Any support you need for out of school hours learning activities and leisure interests. For example this might include some after school clubs or hobbies you have chosen.
- What the person who is responsible for caring for you will do to help you do well in your education and particular interests, like hobbies and sports.
