Thrive in Education at Three Circles Fostering
Welcome to Three Circles Fostering, where our commitment to the holistic development of looked after children goes beyond traditional norms. At the heart of our mission is the belief that every child deserves not just a home but a thriving educational environment. That's why we're proud of our dedicated education service, the National Teaching & Advisory Service (NT&AS). Designed to ensure that each child, regardless of their unique circumstances, receives tailored educational support.
What is the National Teaching & Advisory Service (NT&AS)?
The National Teaching & Advisory Service (NT&AS) has wide-ranging experience in assessing educational needs, teaching and learning, raising attainment and supporting progression to achieving external qualifications. They are successful in identifying and maintaining school placements, screening for specific difficulties and boosting attainment by working with children/young people, carers, social workers, children's and young people's services and schools.
The service provides training and resources to teachers, support staff, and carers to help them better understand the needs of looked after children and how to support their education. NT&AS works closely with Three Circles Fostering, ensuring that every child placed, regardless of age, ability, special needs or specific learning difficulties, has an allocated teacher. This teacher works closely with the child, their foster carers and all other relevant professionals, in order to promote education success.
The allocated teacher assesses education achievement on placement and, if necessary, will coordinate the identification and accessing of an appropriate school place. They will provide direct support during introduction and inclusion, monitor the child's progress and offer practical support in relation to schoolwork, homework and exam preparation. NT&AS teachers are also able to resolve issues around education funding and to provide support should any difficulties arise in school.
For more information, visit the NT&AS website
Understanding the education terminology for looked after children
Understanding Personal Education Plan (PEP)
A Personal Education Plan (PEP) is a document that outlines the educational needs, goals, and aspirations of a child in care. It includes the child's current educational attainment, learning goals, strategies for support, and is regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
Managing the PEP
The PEP for looked after children is managed by a team that includes the Virtual School, the designated teacher for looked after children, the social worker, the foster carer or residential care staff, the child, and the school or college.
Reviewing the PEP
The PEP is a collaborative document that involves input from all key stakeholders. It should be reviewed each school term to ensure it accurately reflects the child's needs and effectively supports their educational progress.
What is a Virtual School?
A virtual school for looked after children is a local authority service dedicated to promoting the education and well-being of looked after children and young people. It provides support to schools, carers, and other professionals involved in the education of these children.
Role of the Designated Teacher
The designated teacher for looked after children is responsible for overseeing their educational needs and progress. They support, monitor, advocate for the students, ensure continuity of education, and liaise with outside agencies to coordinate support.
For more information about PEPs, designated teachers, and virtual schools, please refer to:
Promoting the Education of Looked After Children Government Guidance
Designated Teacher for Looked After Children Government Guidance
What is the Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) and its Impact on Education?
The Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) is a UK government initiative designed to provide additional funding to schools to support the education of disadvantaged children. This includes children currently in care or those who were previously looked after. The funding is intended to help schools overcome the barriers to learning faced by these students and improve their educational outcomes. The Pupil Premium Plus is allocated to schools based on the number of looked after children on their roll. Schools are free to use the funding in a way that best meets the needs of these students.
Funding Amount and Usage
Schools receive £2530 per student per year (2023-24 school year) if they are currently cared for, are adopted or have previously been in care. It's crucial to note that the funding schools receive for the PP+ is not set aside for each individual eligible child. Instead, schools can pool the funds to employ staff, commission training etc. All schools that receive pupil premium funding must publish a strategy statement each academic year using the DfE template.
Effective Use of the Pupil Premium Plus Funding
The Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) funding for looked after children can be used effectively in several ways, including:
Additional support in the classroom: Such as one-to-one tuition or targeted interventions to help overcome specific learning difficulties.
Resources and materials: To purchase educational resources and materials that support the learning and development of looked after children, such as books, technology, and specialist equipment.
Extra-curricular activities: Such as educational trips, clubs, and workshops.
Mental health and well-being support: Such as counselling and therapy services.
Professional development: To provide professional development opportunities for teachers and support staff who work with looked after children, such as training on how to support these students and how to best use the Pupil Premium Plus funding.
Transitions support: Provide additional support to looked after children as they transition between schools, care placements, and other educational settings.
It is important that schools use the Pupil Premium Plus funding in a way that is tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of each child. This strategic use of funds is essential to ensuring that every child gets the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
More Information on Pupil Premium Plus
For more information on how to effectively use the PP+ funds, you can check the following resources:
Glossary of Key Terms
To better understand the context and some of the terminologies used in this post, here's a quick glossary of key terms:
Looked After Child (LAC): A child who is under the care of a local authority in England.
Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO): A professional who oversees the care plan for a looked after child and ensures that their needs are being met.
Foster Carer: An individual or family who provides a home for a looked after child.
Care Plan: A written plan that outlines the child's specific needs and goals while in foster care.
Child Protection: The legal and social responsibility to ensure that children are protected from harm or abuse.
Permanency Planning: The process of creating a long-term plan for a looked after child, such as reunification with their birth family, adoption, or long-term foster care.
Kinship Care: A form of foster care in which a child is placed with a relative or someone with a pre-existing relationship with the child.
Child's Advocate: A person appointed to represent the child's best interests who can offer advice and support to a child or young person.
Child's Personal Education Plan (PEP): A plan outlining the educational goals and support for a looked after child.
Virtual School Head (VSH): A professional who oversees the educational needs of looked after children, including those who attend schools outside of their local authority.
Leaving Care: The process of preparing a looked after child for independent living once they reach the age of 18.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): A member of staff in a school or educational setting who has specific responsibility for child protection and safeguarding.
Staying Put: A policy that allows young people who have been in foster care to remain with their foster carers after they turn 18, to provide them with support and stability as they transition to adulthood.
Foster Care Review: A regular review of the care plan and progress of a looked after child, involving the child, their foster carer, social worker, and other relevant professionals.
Social Worker: A professional who is responsible for the welfare and care of the looked after child, including creating and reviewing their care plan and ensuring their needs are met.
Independent Visitor: A volunteer who visits the looked after child on a regular basis to provide support, advice and friendship.
If our mission to create a nurturing environment for looked after children resonates with you, we invite you to consider becoming a foster carer with Three Circles Fostering. Your decision to open your heart and home can make a lasting impact on a child's life, offering them the stability and support they need to thrive. By joining our fostering community, you become an essential part of the journey toward brighter futures for these remarkable young individuals. To learn more about fostering with Three Circles and how you can make a difference, feel free to reach out and inquire. Together, we can create a world where every child has the opportunity to flourish.