Previously looked after children

Who are the children who were previously in care? 

This refers to a child who is no longer looked after in England and Wales because he/she is the subject of:

• an adoption order
• a Special Guardianship order
• a child arrangement order which includes arrangements relating to with whom the child is to live, or when the child is to live with any person

Parents, carers and guardians would need to self-declare if their child or children were previously in care and provide evidence of their previously in care status.  Evidence could be a copy of the relevant order made by the court or a confirmation from a senior social worker on an appropriate letter head.  Where parents are unable to provide clear evidence of their child's status, the designated teacher will need to use their discretion.

Designated Teacher for previously looked after children must:

• be responsible for promoting the educational achievement of previously looked after pupils
• undertake appropriate training
• have regard for any guidance issued by the Secretary of State 

   

  The designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children - Feb 2018.pdf 

PP+ Grant for Children Previously in Care

PP+ grant is available for children who were previously in care.  This grant goes directly to schools (not the Virtual School) if the eligible child is entered on the October Census and the school is responsible for evidencing impact of spending of the grant.

School do have the final say on how the funding is spent, as they are responsible in ensuring it is spent in accordance with the guidance provided. As with the main pupil premium budget, it is not a personal budget for individual children and schools must use their funding on approaches intended to improve pupils' educational outcomes in line with the 'menu of approaches' found on page 6 of the guidance for school leaders on the uses of PP. 

PP guidance for school leaders March 2025

Support from the Virtual School 

The Virtual School does not keep a list of all children who were previously in care and has no involvement in the way that PP+ for those previously in care is spent in schools.

The Virtual School can only provide information and advice to parents/guardians, and designated teachers on meeting the needs of children who were previously in care. 

IMPORTANT:  Designated teachers much seek consent from parents or guardians before approaching the Virtual School Head or Virtual School Team with specific details around children who are previously looked after.