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Q: Is there someone at my school I can talk to?
A: Every school has a Designated Teacher who supports looked after children and who understands about being in care and how it might affect your education. He or she will make sure that:
- You have all the help you need
- You have someone in school to talk to if you need support
- You have a Personal education plan (PEP) and a Home – School agreement
In a small school this will often be the Headteacher. In a larger school the Headteacher will know who the designated teacher is or you can contact the virtual school for this information.
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Q: What does it mean to be looked after?
A: You are ‘looked after’ by the local authority if you have been provided with accommodation for more than 24 hours either by agreement with your parents or because a court has decided that you will be safer away from home for a while.
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Q: What if I don't attend school regularly?
A: Getting a good education is very important for your future. Some good reasons for going to school;
- You learn new skills for life and learning can be fun!
- You can make friends and learn to get along with people;
- Getting a good education helps you to get a good job.
Sometimes, people miss a lot of school for different reasons;
- They move around a lot and have to change schools;
- They have been excluded;
- They have to wait for a school place;
- Their family keeps them out of school or they are bunking off.
If you are away from school for more than three days, the Life Chances Co-ordinator will telephone your school and your carer to discuss this. Where concerns remain the Life Chances Team Co-ordinator will, within 48 hours, agree with the school and your case worker an ‘action plan’ (targets, what to do next, etc) to address the situation.
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Q: What if I don't have a place at school?
A: We will do all we can to find a school that you can go to as quickly as possible.
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Q: What if I have been excluded from school?
A: If you have been permanently excluded from school, we will support you in finding alternative education.
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Q: What is a PEP?
A: Personal Education Plan - This is also known as a PEP. Within 20 days of starting a school your social worker will help you draw up this plan, with the school's Designated Teacher, your carer and (your parent(s) if appropriate). Your PEP will record what you want to achieve, as well as your progress and achievements and any help you need. It will also make sure that any Information a school needs about you is passed on quickly if you have to move schools.
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Q: What support do we offer?
A: We will support you as little or as much as you need, this could include:
- Tutoring
- Providing advice to carers and schools
- Providing homework support and / or resources.
- Looking at other things you can do outside of school/education such as after-school clubs, football, dance etc
In Northamptonshire we have created a ‘virtual school’ to make sure you get the best from your education. This is not a school that you can attend but a group of people who all work together to make sure that you:
- Have a school to go to
- Attend school regularly
- Have all the help you need at school to do well and be happy there
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