Looked After Children SENCO meetings - November 2010

1. Education LAC Co-ordinator Sue Phillips Danycoed House Tel. 405689 Education Welfare Officers for LAC Julie Rees Tel: 884556 Helen Stephens Tel 873461 Access to Learning, Education Directorate, City & County of Swansea Looked After Children SENCO meetings - November 2010

2. Looked After Children ACCOMMODATED Section 20 of Children Act 1989 By voluntary agreement No parental responsibility acquired No notice of removal required IN CARE Section 31 of Children Act 1989 Court order Interim Care Order (s.38) Shared parental responsibility REMANDED / DETAINED

3. Children Looked After in Wales as of March 31st 2010

4. Reasons Why Children Became Looked After – 2010 Abuse or neglect = 59% Family in acute stress/dysfunction = 24% Parental illness = 10% Socially unacceptable behaviour = 5% Other = 2% Other includes: Absent parenting; disability; adoption breakdown; disruption; low income…

5. CHILDREN ACT 2004 Recognised Looked After Children: • Have poor experiences of education & very low educational attainment • Have educational outcomes that remain significantly lower than for all children (As a proportion of those who reach ave levels of attainment expected of 7, 11, 14 & 16 yr olds) • Only very few progress to higher education compared to their peers Duty to promote the education of LAC

6. A Better Education forChildren in Care The Social Exclusion Unit’s report identified 5 KEY reasons why LAC under achieve in education: • Too much time out of school • Lives characterised by instability • Insufficient help with their education if they get behind • Primary carers are not expected / equipped to provide sufficient support & encouragement for learning & development • Unmet emotional, mental & physical health needs that impact on their education

7. The Role of the Education Directorate • Inclusive approach • Full time educational provision • P.E.Ps. • S.E.N. support • Teacher with educational responsibility • E.W.O. / L.A.C. support

8. The Role of the Education Directorate • To support pupils to reach their individual potential • To promote high expectation for each pupil • Stability & continuity • Working in partnership • High expectations • Staff training & support

9. The Education LAC Co-ordinatorSue Phillips Responsible for: 'Co-ordinating Education Programmes of LAC in Discussion with Education Providers' • Full time education • Inclusion

10. The Education LAC Co-ordinator • Works with: Social Services / Carers / Education • Liaises with E.W.O. for L.A.C. • Planning & review meetings • Education provision • Panel meetings • Personal Education Plans (P.E.Ps.)

11. The Education Welfare Officer for Looked After ChildrenJulie Rees & Helen Stephens (0.5 post) • Encourages & supports attendance by our Looked After Children • Liaises with EWS colleagues in schools to support LAC • Regular liaison with residential centres • Links with carers, social workers & others • Offers support to LAC in various ways

12. The Designated Teacher(Usually Head Teacher / Senior Teacher) • Ensure high expectations • Responsible for liaison with Social Services • Provide support & guidance to staff

13. The Designated Teacher(Named for each school & centre)The Role • Access services & support • Ensure each L.A.C. pupil has a P.E.P. • Facilitate transfer of information • Attend L.A.C. reviews - as appropriate • Contribute to Social Services plans • Liaise with carers

14. The LAC Liaison TeacherTeacher who attends review... ‘Knows the pupil well and… Has a good relationship with them' (E.g. Class Teacher ISENCO IHead of Year) • Main Role: • Provide information • Personal support • Liaise with carer, parent, social worker...

15. The LAC Liaison Teacher Responsibilities • Liaise with pupil’s social worker • Contribute to record & plans • Prepare for / attend L.A.C. reviews & meetings • Formulate, forward & review P.E.P.s • Co-ordinate review of S.E.N. statement • Liaise with E.W.O. • Liaise with careers staff

16. Personal Educations Plans(PEPs) Social worker to inform school of young person becoming Looked After to initiate PEP Social worker to fully share information to contribute to completion of PEP – ideally in PEP meeting with pupil, school, carer & parent PEP to be completed by school WITHIN 20 SCHOOL DAYS of pupil becoming Looked After or changing schools PEP to be forwarded to IRO who monitors completion. This is an authority P.I. we are seeking to improve! PEP is kept by school, amended as needed & updated for forwarding to subsequent LAC reviews

17. Raise LAC Grant • Year 5 of 5 year grant • To raise attainment in key stage 3 & 4 • Grant provides • Mentoring by 2 project workers • Study resources • Evening home tuition • Recent evaluation by WAG shows • Swansea in top quartile for GCSE points scores for LAC

18. LAC Educ Project Worker Jo Perkins Provides additional support in educational settings for a number of Looked After Children on referral to year 8 Support is usually 1:1 or group support in school for one session a week for a short period LAC RAISE Project Workers Sarah Powell, Lucy Ward Provide additional mentoring support in educational settings for Looked After Young People in years 9-12 Help access further resources to support the young person achieve; e.g. Study guides, ICT, et Home tuition is offered to all year 9-12 through our WAG Raise grant Education Project Workers for Looked After Children

19. "Education is the most important thing we can give our children"Professor Sonia Jackson Schools that make a difference • Provide places • Support designated teachers • Keep children in their schools • Clear communication • School policies on bullying • Sympathetic & supportive staff • High expectation

20. Education for Looked After Children Sue Phillips: Education LAC Co-ordinator