LAC Policy

To promote the educational achievement and welfare of looked after children within Changing Lives Independent School.

Looked after children (LAC) are one of the most vulnerable groups in society. The majority of looked after children have suffered abuse or neglect and it is nationally recognised that considerable educational under-achievement exists when compared to their peers.

Under the Children Act 1989 a child is ‘looked after’ by a local authority if he or she is in their care or provided with accommodation for more than 24 hours by the authority. They fall into four main groups:

• children who are accommodated under a voluntary agreement with their parents (section 20);
• children who are the subjects of a care order (section 31) or interim care order (section 38);
• children who are the subjects of emergency orders for their protection (sections 44 and 46);
• children who are compulsorily accommodated – this includes children remanded to the local authority or subject to a criminal-justice supervision order with a residence requirement (section 21).

The term ‘In Care’ refers only to children who are subject to a care order by the Court under Section 31 of the Children Act 1989 – they may live with foster carers, in a children’s home, in a residential school, with relatives or with parents under supervision.

Children who are cared for on a voluntary basis are ‘accommodated’ by the local authority under Section 20 of the Children Act – they may live in foster care, in a children’s home or in a residential school.

All these groups are said to be ‘Looked After Children’ (LAC). They may be looked after by the Local Authority or may be in the care of another authority.

Changing Lives Independent School aims to promote the educational attainment, achievement and welfare of looked after children.

The Designated member of staff for Looked After Children is Nicola Smith.

This policy includes requirements set out in “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” (November 2005) and associated guidance on the education of looked after children.

The aims of the school are to:

• ensure that school policies and procedures are followed for looked after children as for all children;
• ensure that all looked after children have access to a broad and balanced curriculum;
• provide a differentiated curriculum appropriate to the individual’s needs and ability;
• ensure that looked after students take as full a part as possible in school activities;
• ensure that carers and social workers of looked after students are kept fully informed of their child’s progress and attainment;
• ensure that looked after students are involved, where possible, in decisions affecting their future provision.

Looked after children may enter school at any time in the term. At Changing Lives Independent School we believe that it is vital that all new students receive a positive welcome and full support for their inclusion in our learning community.

This policy recognises that all students are entitled to a balanced, broadly based curriculum. Our LAC Policy reinforces the need for teaching and learning that is fully inclusive. The Headteacher and Proprietor will ensure the school makes appropriate provision for all looked after students.

The Headteacher will ensure that the school allocates resources to support appropriate provision for LAC, meeting the objectives set out in this policy. We will work in partnership with the Local Authority Virtual School for looked after children to ensure that looked after children receive the full range of support to which they are entitled to enable them to make progress and achieve.

The school assesses each looked-after student’s attainment on entry to ensure continuity of learning. The social worker for the looked after child initiates a Personal Education Plan (PEP) within 20 days of the student joining the school, or of entering care, and ensures that the young person is actively involved.

Following the initial PEP, the Designated Teacher liaises with other agencies involved to arrange further PEP review meetings and provides copies of the PEP to the social worker, specialist teacher from the Local Authority Virtual School and other agencies. The allocation and purpose of the Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) will be included within the PEP. All PEPs are completed electronically through the online system provided by Welfare Call.

The Designated Teacher knows all the looked after children in school and has access to their relevant contact details including parents, carers, Virtual School specialist staff, teacher/support worker and social worker.

The status of looked after children is identified within the school’s information systems so that information is readily available to all classroom teachers and relevant associate staff. LAC are identified as a vulnerable group when tracking, monitoring and reporting on attainment and progress.

We encourage staff to attend courses that help them to acquire the skills needed to support a LAC. Part of the Designated Teacher’s role is to raise awareness of issues associated with LAC within the school and disseminate information.

We believe in developing strong partnerships with parents/carers and care workers to enable LAC to achieve their potential and aid their future economic well-being. Review meetings are an opportunity to further this collaboration and partnership working.

We recognise the important contribution that external support services make in supporting LAC.

Colleagues from the following support services may be involved with individual LAC:

• Social care worker / Community care worker / Residential childcare worker
• Virtual School for Looked After Children (Looked After Children in Education Team)
• Educational psychologists and others from Local Authority SEN services
• Medical officers
• CAMHS
• Education Welfare Officers
• Youth Offending Service
• External Learning Providers