Previously Looked After Children (P-lac)
Support for Previously Looked After Children
Halton Virtual School provides advice and guidance to help parents, carers and guardians support the educational achievement of Previously Looked After Children (P-LAC). While the Virtual School is not acting as a corporate parent, it can offer information, advocacy support and guidance on educational issues.
A child is considered previously looked after if they are no longer in care because they are subject to:
- An Adoption Order
- A Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
- A Child Arrangements Order stating who the child lives with
The definition also includes children adopted from state care outside England and Wales.
Parents, carers or guardians must self-declare their child's status and provide evidence, such as a court order or confirmation from a senior social worker. Where evidence is unavailable, the school's designated teacher may use their discretion.
Maintained schools and academies must have a designated teacher for previously looked after children. Further guidance is available here:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-teacher-for-looked-after-children
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-the-education-of-looked-after-children
Contact
The Virtual School can only discuss a child with the consent of the person holding parental responsibility.
David Bradshaw – Previously Looked After Children Lead
Tel: 0151 511 7391
Email: david.bradshaw@halton.gov.uk
Pupil Premium Plus (PPP)
Schools can claim £2,630 per pupil for previously looked after children in Reception to Year 11 (rising to £2,690 in 2026–27).
To receive funding:
- Parents/carers must self-declare the child's status and provide evidence.
- The information must be recorded before the autumn census.
- If a child changes school, parents/carers must self-declare again.
Further information:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium/pupil-premium#payment-schedule-for-financial-year-2023-24
- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-the-school-census/data-items
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
Children aged 2–4 may be eligible for EYPP funding (currently up to £570 per year) if they:
- Were looked after for at least one day.
- Were adopted from care.
- Left care through a Special Guardianship Order.
- Are subject to a Child Arrangements Order.
Parents should declare their child's status to the setting so funding can be claimed.
Personal Education Plans (PEPs)
PEPs are not statutory for previously looked after children but are considered good practice. Regular reviews can help:
- Identify strengths and needs.
- Capture the child's views.
- Record agreed actions.
- Monitor use of PPP funding.
Schools may use existing PEP, SEND or plan-do-review processes.
Adoption & Special Guardians Support Fund
The Adoption Support Fund may provide therapeutic support for:
- Adopted children.
- Children subject to an SGO who were looked after immediately before the order was granted.
- Up to £3000 available for therapy (minus £2500 for local authority assessment).
More information:
- https://adoptioncounts.org.uk/
- https://www.frg.org.uk/need-help-or-advice/family-and-friends-carers/the-adoption-support-fund-and-special-guardians
- https://www.togetherforadoption.co.uk/Home.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI77f-soKZgwMVfFpHAR1G6QT7EAAYASAAEgKBVvD_BwE
Educational Resources
Supporting Children in Education
- https://www.pac-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Meeting-the-needs-of-adopted-and-permanently-placed-children-A-guide-for-school-staff.pdf
- https://www.adoptionuk.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=9166dcad-abe8-406a-817b-ddf3b9928398
- https://assets.ctfassets.net/ii3xdrqc6nfw/3MtGkKjhZpTrKQddCVFrq2/cba0f0824194aeb4e75995253f95c39d/Information_for_adoptive_parents_and_those_with_children_who_left_care_on_a_special_guardianship_order_or_child_arrangements.pdf
Adoption, Care and Kinship Support
- https://www.adoptionuk.org/Pages/Category/schools
- https://corambaaf.org.uk/
- https://www.pac-uk.org/our-services/education/
- https://kinship.org.uk/
- https://www.first4adoption.org.uk/adoption-support/education-support/pupil-premium/
- https://frg.org.uk/
Online Safety and Neurodiversity
- https://nationalcollege.com/categories/online-safety
- https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/
Financial and Family Support
- https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
- Family Rights Group advice line: 0208 801 0366
Wellbeing and Mental Health
- https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/schools/pants-teaching
- https://www.educators-barnardos.org.uk/media/s4xfmntj/my-coping-toolbox-booklet.pdf
- https://www.youngminds.org.uk/media/4mhjvqu1/resilience-boat.pdf
- https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/?topic=practical-tools-for-support#main-content
- https://www.annafreud.org/resources/schools-and-colleges/lets-talk-about-anxiety-animation-and-teacher-toolkit/
- https://beaconhouse.org.uk/resources/
Regional Partnership
Many of the resources available have been developed through the Five Boroughs Partnership (Halton, Warrington, Cheshire West, St Helens and Wigan) within the Together for Adoption cluster. This collaboration supports the development of resources, guidance and shared practice for previously looked after children and their families across the North West.
Further information, support and reading
- information for adoptive parents and those with children who left care on a special guardianship order or child arrangements (PDF 545Kb)
- Previously Looked After Children Lead: contact David Bradshaw Email: David.bradshaw@halton.gov.uk
- Together for Adoption: regional adoption agency
- Adoption UK: national charity providing support and information for adoptive families and resources for schools
- Coram BAAF: organisation providing information, resources and training to agencies, individuals and professionals on matters relating to adoption. Some services are for members only
- PAC UK: information and advice about previously looked after children for education settings
- Homepage - Kinship - The kinship care charity: A website that supports kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.
- Online Safety Training For Schools | National Online Safety (nationalcollege.com): Browse through hundreds of courses, webinars and resources giving you the knowledge, skills and confidence to have age-appropriate, informed discussions with children to keep them safe, healthy and resilient to life.
- Home - ADHD Foundation : ADHD Foundation: The ADHD Foundation is the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering a strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more.
- Pupil Premium: school support funding - First4Adoption - An excellent website detailing the financial support (and the ASGSF) for children previously looked after.
-
Turn to Us is a charity that aims to ensure that everyone is getting the benefits that they are entitled to. For more information, visit www.turn2us.org.uk or call them on 0808 802 2000.
Family Rights Group can offer advice and guidance to special guardians regarding their rights and also practical advice and guidance when making an application to the Adoption Support Fund. Call their free advice line on 0208 801 0366 or visit their website: https://frg.org.uk/
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/schools/pants-teaching
https://www.educators-barnardos.org.uk/media/s4xfmntj/my-coping-toolbox-booklet.pdf
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/media/4mhjvqu1/resilience-boat.pdf
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/?topic=practical-tools-for-support#main-content
https://beaconhouse.org.uk/resources/
Please note: many of the files to download below are a joint product of the Together for Adoption cluster 'Five Boroughs Partnership' partnership that comprises: Halton, Warrington, Cheshire West, St.Helens and Wigan. It is believed strong collaboration across the North West region aids the development of action plans, documents, signposting and leads to high functioning inter local authority shared practice providing an excellent layer of coverage that supports our previously looked after cohort (and parents and carers).