Previously looked after children

Previously looked-after children are those who:

are no longer looked after by a local authority in England and Wales (as defined by the Children Act 1989 or Part 6 of the Social Services and Well- being (Wales) Act 2014) because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship (SGO) or child arrangements order (CAO) or
were adopted from ‘state care’ outside England and Wales. ‘State care’ is care provided by a public authority, a religious organisation, or any other organisation whose sole or main purpose is to benefit society

Our role

respond to parental requests for advice and information. Where appropriate, the Virtual School head will signpost parents to other services that can offer advice and support
respond to requests for advice and information from providers of early education, designated teachers in maintained schools and academies, and providers of alternative provision in their area in respect of individual children supported by the local authority
make general advice and information available to early years settings and schools to improve awareness of the vulnerability and needs of previously looked after children (this will include promoting good practice on identifying and meeting their needs, and guidance on effective use of the Pupil Premium Plus)
not monitor the educational progress of individual children or be held to account for their educational attainment; any intervention in the education of a previously looked-after child must be with the agreement of the person(s) who have parental responsibility for the child (they, like all parents, are responsible for overseeing their child’s progress in education)