Looked After Children Policy
Sutton Park Primary School aims to promote the educational achievement and welfare of pupils in its
care who are on school roll.
Designated Senior Teacher for LAC – Mrs Julia Eley
Designated Senior Support for LAC _ Miss Lisa Williamson
Governor with responsibility for LAC – Mrs Pat Hatfield
The governing body is committed to providing quality education for all its pupils based on equality of
access, opportunity and outcomes. This policy includes requirements set out in “The Children and
Young Persons Act 2008 to appoint a designated senior member of staff” and “Statutory guidance on
the duty on Local Authorities to promote the educational achievement of Looked After Children under
section 52 of the children Act 2004”
We at Sutton Park Primary School aim to contribute towards achieving the 5 outcomes of Every Child
Matters (6 specific for Hull) which is the Government’s aim for every child, whatever their background
or circumstances.
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Stay safe
Be healthy
Enjoy and Achieve ( These are split in Hull making 6 outcomes)
Make a positive contribution
Achieve economic well being
The aims of Sutton Park Primary School are to:
 Ensure that school policies and procedures are followed for LAC as for all children.
 Ensure that all LAC have access to a broad and balanced curriculum.
 Provide a differentiated curriculum appropriate to the individual’s needs and ability were
required.
 Ensure that LAC pupils take as full a part a possible in all school activities, including after
school and lunchtime clubs.
 Ensure that carers and social workers of LAC pupils are kept fully informed of the child’s/
young person’s progress and attainment and that the child/young person is actively involved.
It is vital that the school assesses each LAC’s attainment on entry to ensure continuity of
learning.
The school will monitor and track the achievement and attainment of all pupils at regular intervals.
LAC will require their PEP to be reviewed, according to their needs, as initiated by the reviewing
officer or social worker, the young person’s view should be sought by the designated member of staff
and noted on the PEP. This will now be done using the new EPEP system (electronic personal
education plan)
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Who are Looked After Children
Under the children act 1989, a child/young person is looked after by the Local Authority if he or she is
in their care or is provided with accommodation for more than 24 hours by the authority. They include
the following:
 Children/young person who are accommodated by the local authority under a voluntary
agreement with their parents (section 20)
 Children/young person who are subject to a care order(section 31) or interim care order
(section 38)
 Children/young person who are subject of emergency orders for the protection of the child
(section 44)
Children/young people are “accommodated” by the Local Authority under section 20 when there is
no person who has parental responsibility for them, the child is lost or abandoned or the person who
has been caring for them is prevented from providing him or her with suitable accommodation or
care.
The majority of children who are being accommodated by the LA will be doing so with the full
agreement of those who have parental responsibility, because of difficult family circumstances which
means they cannot be cared for in there usual environment.
Some looked after children are subject to a “care order” , if the LA believe that the child/young
person has or is likely to suffer “significant harm” if they remain with the birth family, a care order can
be applied for to assume parental responsibility for the child.
These children may then live with foster families, in a children’s home or residential school all these
groups are said to be Looked after Children (LAC)
Admissions
The governing Body endorses the LA policy, the Council, as the Admission Authority, believes that
admissions criteria should not discriminate against LAC pupils. Due to care placement changes, LAC
may enter school mid-term.
It is vital that a positive welcome is given to them to ensure they settle, this may be achieved with
pre-entry visits, additional support from the pastoral team and good communication between school,
carers and social workers.
Inclusion
This policy recognises that all pupils are entitled to a balanced, broadly based curriculum. Our LAC
policy reinforces the need for teaching to be fully inclusive. The Governing Body will ensure the
school makes appropriate provision for LAC pupils.
Allocation of resources
The Governing Body will ensure that the school allocates resources to support appropriate provision
for LAC, meeting the objectives set out in this policy.
Monitoring the progress of LAC
The social worker for the LAC should initiate a Personal Education Plan-PEP within 20 days of the
child/young person joining the school or entering care.
Record Keeping:
The designated member of staff and Headteacher will know who are all the LAC in the school and
will have access to their relevant contact details including parents, carers and social workers. They
will also know about any LAC from other authorities. It is important that the school flags LAC status
appropriately in the school’s information systems so that information is readily available as required.
Staff Development
We encourage staff attend courses that help them acquire the skills needed to support LAC. All staff
have had recent training about LAC and inclusion from the designated member of staff.
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Partnership with parents/carers and care workers
At Sutton Park Primary School we firmly believe in developing strong partnerships with
parents/carers and care workers to enable LAC to achieve their potential.
Review meetings are opportunity to further this partnership working.
Links with external agencies/organisations
At Sutton Park Primary School we also recognise the important contribution that external support
services make supporting LAC. Colleagues from the support services may be involved with
individual LAC:
 I-Lac teams (social services)
 I-Lac Education Team (virtual heads)
 Educational psychologists and other LA SEN services
 Medical Officers
 I-LAC Health Team (formerly school nursing team)
 CAMHS (mental health service)
 Education Welfare Officers
 Social worker/community care worker/residential care worker/contact officer
 Youth Justice Service
 Independent Conference and Reviewing Officer (ICRO)
 RAPP (Rights and Participation Project)
 Refresh ( Substance and Alcohol Abuse)
 School Counsellor
 NSPCC
 Barnados
 Family assessment and Support Unit (FASU)
LAC policy review and evaluation:
At Sutton Park Primary School we consider the LAC policy to be important and we undertake a
thorough review of both policy and practice each year. The outcomes of this review inform the
school improvement plan.
Policy revised by Lisa Williamson
Designated senior Teacher for LAC – Mrs Julia Eley
Designated senior support for LAC – Miss Lisa Williamson
Designated Governor – Pat Hatfield
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Appendix
Roles and Responsibilities:
Looked After Children – LAC are one of the most vulnerable groups in society and it is nationally
recognised that there is considerable educational underachievement when compared to their peers.
For example they may experience:
 A high level of disruption and change in school placements
 Lack of involvement in extra curricular activities
 Inconsistent or no attention paid to homework
This may result in:
 Poor examination success rates in comparison with the general population
 Underachievement in further and higher education.
These issues may also affect adopted children.
The majority of children who remain in care are there because they have suffered abuse or neglect.
The Every Child Matters: Change for Children programme aims to improve outcomes for all children.
As corporate parents we all have a part to play in this by vigorously applying the principles of good
parenting by:
 Giving priority to education
 Listening to children
 Providing stability and continuity
 Taking corporate responsibility
 Raising standards
 Intervening early
 Promoting early years experience
 Celebrating success
The designated senior member of staff will:
 Be aware of the emotional, psychological and social effects of loss and separation from
birth families, the reason for that separation and that some children may find it difficult to
build relationships of trust with adults because of their experiences.
 Understand the reasons which may be behind a LAC behaviour, and why they may need
more support than another, without lowering expectations.
 Be an advocate for LAC within the school
 Give regard to the impact of relevant decisions for LAC on both the LAC and the rest of
the school community
 Know who are all the LAC in school, including those in the care of other authorities, and
ensure the availability of all relevant details from school record- keeping systems as
required
 Attend relevant training
 Act as the key liaison professional for other agencies and carers in relation to LAC,
seeking advice from the LAC team when appropriate
 Ensure that LAC receive a positive welcome on entering the school especially mid-year
and, if necessary, offer additional support pre entry visits etc to help the child settle in.
 Ensure that all LAC have an appropriate PEP and that this is completed within 20 days of
entry to care or joining of the school
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Keep PEPS and other records up to date and review PEPS using the EPEP system to
acquire accurate effective data analysis at 6 monthly intervals to create a shared
understanding between teachers, carers, social workers and most importantly, depending
on age and understanding, the child and what they need from everyone to help them
achieve their full potential
 Convene an urgent multi-agency meeting should a LAC experience difficulties or is at risk
from exclusion
 Appreciate the importance of showing sensitivity about who else knows about a LAC
status, sharing confidential and personal information on a need to know basis, bearing in
mind the wishes of the individual LAC
 Be a source of advice for teachers/governors at school on issues relevant to LAC,
differentiated teaching strategies appropriate for individual pupils who are looked after etc
 Ensure that care and school liaison is effective including invitation to meetings and other
school events
 Actively encourage and promote out of hours learning and extra curricular activities
 Ensure speedy transfer of information, records and coursework when a LAC transfers
school
 Contribute information to LAC reviews when required
 Report to the Governing Body on LAC in the school and inform of relevant policy and
practice development
 Agree with the social worker appropriate people to invite to parent’s evening and events
 Prepare reports for governors meetings to include:
 Attendance
 Attainment and progress compared to other pupils
 The number, if any, of fixed or permanent exclusions
 The destination of pupils when they leave Sutton Park Primary School
Ensure any special needs are addressed in conjunction with the SENCO and in accordance
with the SEN code of practise.
Be aware of the “looked after pledge” specific for Hull (see page 10 for full pledge)
Good practice suggests that all staff will:
 Follow school policies and procedures
 Keep the designated senior member off staff informed of LAC progress
 Have high expectations of LAC involvement in learning and educational progress
 Ensure any LAC is supported sensitively and that confidentiality is maintained
 Be familiar with the schools LAC policy and guidance and respond appropriately to requests
for information to support PEPs and review meetings
 Liaise with designated member of staff if LAC is experiencing difficulties
 Give only official exclusions and only use exclusions in line with the schools exclusion policy,
and relevant national guidelines, being mindful to the difficulties this may create in the care
placement
Good practice suggests that the Governing Body will:
 Ensure all governors are fully aware of the legal requirements and guidance of LAC
 Ensure there is a designated senior member off staff appointed
 Liaise with the Headteacher to ensure the needs of LAC are met
 Nominate a governor with responsibility for LAC
 Ensure that school policies and procedures give LAC equal access in respect of – admission
to school, National curriculum and out of school learning
 Annually review the effective implementation of the school policy for LAC
 Ensure that the designated member of staff is invited to any exclusion meeting over seen by
the Governing Body
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Looked After Children Pledge (Hull)
The “looked after children pledge” confirms the commitment to them as corporate parents.
The pledge has been developed working with children and young people in Hull who have
experience of being looked after.
In 2007 the government realised a White Paper entitled “Care Matters, Time for Change”, the
recommendations from this paper were aimed at improving outcomes for looked after children and
young people.
One of the recommendations was that each local authority would develop a “Children in Care
Council” (CICC) and to develop a pledge that would be adopted by the LA and be unique to the area.
In 2008 RAPP worked with a group of young people in care to develop Hull’s pledge calling
themselves “Young Voices In Care” (YVIC)
In 2011 the Pledge was complete.
Our Pledge to Children and Young People
We Will –
 Support you in reaching your dreams
 Help you to have fun and get involved in clubs and activities so that you make new friends
and develop interests.
 Provide you with safe and comfortable home where you can feel part of a family or group.
 Keep you safe from harm where you live, at school and in the city.
 Support and guide you with any health or emotional needs.
 Help you get quick and useful information and appointments.
 Help you to do the best you can at school and give you support with reading, writing,
maths or any other subject when you need it.
 Support you in taking up education and training opportunities after you leave school.
 Support you to become successful adults with a positive future.
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Signed by:
The Chair of Governors
Date: .................................
Headteacher
Date: ..................................
School Business Manager Date: ..................................
This policy was adopted by the Governing Body on:
Next review: September 2015
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