Responsibilities of Carers Concerning the Promotion of Education

SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER

This chapter applies to all Children Looked After. It should be read in conjunction with the government guidance documents and related chapters.

Note that different provisions apply to children who acquire Looked After status as a result of a remand to local authority accommodation or Youth Detention Accommodation. In relation to those children, please see Remands to Local Authority Accommodation or to Youth Detention Accommodation Procedure, Care Planning for Young People on Remand.

RELEVANT GUIDANCE

DfE, Promoting the Education of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children

DfE and DHSC, Special educational needs and disability code of practice 0 to 25 years- Statutory guidance for organisations who work with and support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (2015)

DfE, Supporting pupils at school with medical conditions – Statutory guidance, (2015)

RELATED CHAPTERS

The Personal Education Plan (PEP)

When a Child is Absent from School and School Exclusions

Celebrating a Child's Achievements

AMENDMENT

This chapter was reviewed in June 2020.

This chapter was reviewed in December 2022.

Carers can be the positive advocates for Children Looked After. They deal with the educational issues, problems and successes, on a day-to-day basis. They are the link to teachers, parents and other professionals.

  1. Introduce themselves to the class teacher or Head of Year and Designated Teacher;
  2. Ensure that the child attends school every day;
  3. Notify the school as early as possible during the first school day of absence;
  4. Supply the school with evidence of the child's illness;
  5. Accompany the child to and from school, according to the child's age and ability;
  6. Seek support from the child's social worker and Virtual School if problems occur;
  7. Maintain regular contact with the school and attend parents' evening and school functions e.g. school plays, sports day. If unable to do so, ensure alternative arrangements are put in place e.g. social worker attend, alternative date/time;
  8. Encourage the child to have aspirations in their life from the earliest stage.
  9. Ensure that the child has somewhere quiet to study and do homework;
  10. Encourage and support the child to do their homework and offer/seek help where appropriate;
  11. . Encourage all children to develop their own talents, interests and hobbies;
  12. . Ensure children are a member of the library;
  13. . Build a supply of books and read to or with the child as appropriate to their age;
  14. Encourage children to watch educational television programmes and videos/DVDs and go on outings to places of interest. Use everyday situations to promote learning;
  15. Encourage children to participate in school and after-school activities;
  16. Keep information on the child's educational circumstances and achievements;
  17. Check with the child how things are at school; discuss education on a routine/regular basis;
  18. Encourage children to do well educationally, consider an appropriate career and go into further or higher education;
  19. Act as an advocate on behalf of the child and intervene immediately if there is a problem with education;
  20. Liaise with social workers (and other relevant people e.g. Virtual School) in relation to educational issues;
  21. Celebrate success and reward the child when they do well;
  22. Contribute to The Personal Education Plan (PEP);
  23. To encourage children to engage with the Virtual School Team members to support and enhance their educational experience.