Children in Care (CiC)
Please click on the links below for more information.
Who are children in care?
Children in care can live in their own home, in a foster placement with a foster carer, in a foster placement with a family member or relative or in a local authority home
Why do children become looked after?
A child can become looked after by their local authority for many different reasons. Some children just need some time away from home or they might be awaiting adoption. Some will have experienced neglect, trauma, abuse or pain. Some have parents with poor mental health, a history of substance misuse, domestic abuse. Some may have suffered non accidental injuries.
Designated Teacher for Looked After Children
All schools need a Designated Teacher for Looked After Children. At Bartley our Designated Teacher is Michelle Doyle who can be contacted on m.doyle@bartley.hants.sch.uk
The designated teacher should have lead responsibility for helping school staff understand the things which affect how looked after children learn and achieve.
Among other things, the designated teacher should:
- promote a culture of high expectations and aspirations for how looked after children learn;
- make sure the young person has a voice in setting learning targets;
- be a source of advice for staff about differentiated teaching strategies appropriate for individual children and in making full use of Assessment for Learning;
- make sure that looked after children are prioritised in one-to-one tuition arrangements and that carers understand the importance of supporting learning at home;
- have lead responsibility for the development and implementation of the child’s personal education plan (PEP) within the school.
Further information about the role of the Designated Teacher can be found using this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269764/role_and_responsibilities_of_the_designated_teacher_for_looked_after_children.pdf
Hampshire Virtual School
Their work is focused on the education and welfare for children and young people looked after (CLA) in the primary, secondary and special sectors as well as with care leavers. They work in partnership with social workers, schools, and other county children’s services and teams. They provide training and support to the designated teacher. The link below takes you to their website.
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/cic-virtual-school
Personal Education Plans PEPs
A personal Education Plan (PEP_) is a document held by schools and colleges which relates to a particular child and sets out their educational targets for attainment and achievements and recommends how this will be done. Essentially, the PEP catches the educational history and supports the aspiration of the child in care, in partnership with social workers, parents and carers. It allows for a continuous record of the child’s school history, and identifies any additional needs that they may have and what support will need to be put in place to enable the young person to access an appropriate curriculum and reach their full potential. The PEP is reviewed every three months.
The PEP remains an active document for the child in care, as the educational part of their Care Plan.
Adopted Children
The majority of children and young people adopted today suffered trauma in their birth families and became ‘looked after children’ before their final move to their adoptive families. Bartley CE Junior School is aware that adopted children continue to have the same or similar needs as they had when they were ‘looked after’. Often these needs have been exacerbated by the further, albeit final, move to adoption.
Although presently adopted children do not have a Personal Education plan, Hampshire Virtual Schools are presently reviewing this. If parents of adopted children have any concerns about the progress either academically, emotionally or socially about their child please do not hesitate to contact the designated teacher for looked after children (m.doyle@bartley.hants.sch.uk)
Attachment
Being able to make secure attachments is crucial to everyone’s happiness and success. This ability is often compromised by the early experiences of looked after and adopted children. The link below may be useful to carers and parents to explore this need.
http://documents.hants.gov.uk/childrens-services/AttachmentforChildrenLookedAfter2.pdf
