Responsibilities of Social Workers Concerning the Promotion of Education

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)

Designated Teacher for Looked After and Previously Looked After Children

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

DfE, Keeping children safe in education (2019)

RELATED CHAPTERS

When a Child first becomes Looked After

When a Child is Absent from School and School Exclusions

Avoidance of Disruption in Education

The Personal Education Plan (PEP)

Information Sharing

AMENDMENT

This chapter was reviewed in June 2020.

This chapter was reviewed in December 2022.

The social worker for the child must:

  1. Have overall responsibility to ensure that the child's educational needs of the Children Looked After are met. The Social Worker has the prime responsibility to either deliver, or commission and co-ordinate services;
  2. Work in partnership with relevant education professionals to ensure the child reaches their potential and any barriers to learning are removed;
  3. Keep the Designated Teacher informed of any significant events, for example, court cases, contact sessions etc.
  4. Ensure that whenever possible, a child's educational needs are addressed when considering any change of looked after placement;
  5. Ensure all Care Plans, Pathway Plans, Looked After Reviews and other planning processes for each child address his or her education. All targets must be linked to the individual potential of the child;
  6. Ensure schools receive copies of relevant plans and that the day-to-day arrangements relating to school transport, clothes and dinner money are addressed. Plans must include where appropriate, details of who will read to the child and supervise homework;
  7. Ensure that tasks contained within the child's Personal Education Plan (PEP) are implemented by named persons/agencies;
  8. Ensure that a new PEP is agreed as soon as possible and within timescales of a child becoming looked after or joining a new school;
  9. Contribute actively to the assessment process leading to an Education, Health and Care Plan and the annual review of the Plan.