The Levett School

Children in Care

My Name is Miss Place and I am the SENDCo and Designated Teacher for Looked after Children at The Levett School.

“Children in care (CiC) / Looked after children (LAC)” are defined as:

  • Children or young people who are the subject of a Care Order or Interim Care Order under the Children Act 1989.
  • Children who are placed in foster care, children’s residential homes, with relatives or friends, in semi-independent or supported independent accommodation.
  • Children subject to a Care or Interim Care Order whilst placed with a parent, where the local authority has parental responsibility.
  • Children who are not subject to an order, but are accommodated by the local authority under an agreement with their parents.

“Previously-Children in Care / Looked after children (LAC)” are defined as:

  • Children who are no longer looked after by a local authority in England and Wales because they have either been adopted or are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements order.
  • Children who were adopted outside England and Wales from ‘state care’ (care that is provided by a public authority, religious organisation, or other organisation whose main purpose is to benefit society).

Designated teacher:

All maintained schools, academies and free schools are required to appoint a designated teacher to champion the educational attainment of children in care and previously children in care, and act as a source of information and advice about their needs.

Virtual school head (VSH):

As of 2014, all local authorities are required to appoint a member of staff to promote the educational achievement of the children it looks after as if they were in a single school. They work strategically across the authority and with schools to monitor and support the educational achievement of children in care.

Virtual school:

Most local authorities have a virtual school model to support the VSH’s role. The virtual school is a very important partner for the designated teacher and provides an invaluable source of support and advice to designated teachers both about individual children and the education of children in care more generally.

More information the Doncaster’s Virtual School is available here

Find out more