3.5.4 Children in Care Education Panel |
Contents
1. Context
The Children Act 2004 Section 52 places a duty on the local authority, in its role as Corporate Parent, to promote the educational achievement of children looked after.
The Guidance stipulates a local authority's success in achieving this should be measured on whether:
- Children looked after at every age achieve educational outcomes comparable to their peers;
- strategic planning and day-to-day processes throughout the local authority demonstrate robust procedures and a culture of pro-active commitment to secure the highest educational outcomes for looked after children;
- children looked after are encouraged to have high expectations of themselves and to achieve their full potential;
- training, development and support for carers and local authority staff ensure that they understand the needs of children looked after.
2. Terms of Reference of the Panel
The Panel is one of a range of initiatives to promote the educational achievement of children looked after. The terms of reference are as follows:
- to provide a multi disciplinary forum for discussion and problem solving for young people with complex educational needs which cannot be resolved through the usual support mechanisms such as the Reach Up Team
- to ensure appropriate systems are being used to address issues relating to education and identify any additional support and resources required
- to support all children looked after to access appropriate educational provision according to their needs with a view to achieving full time education
- to agree an action plan to resolve issues for all children discussed
- to inform senior managers of young people whose educational difficulties remain unresolved following referral to the panel
- to highlight broader issues and concerns relating to the education of children Looked after
3. Referral Process
Referrals to the Panel may be made for any Looked after Child of school age, who is placed in or out of county and where there are concerns relating to education which cannot be addressed outside this process.
Children should only be referred when all normal processes have been exhausted.
A referral form should be completed and sent to the Reach Up Team setting out the concerns and preferred outcomes for the child.
Appendix - Referral Form
Click here to view Referral Form.
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