Croydon Virtual School

The Virtual School has a statutory duty to promote the educational achievement of previously looked-after children (PLAC).

These are children who are no longer in local authority care because they:

• were adopted
• are subject to a Special Guardianship Order
• are subject to certain Child Arrangements Orders

This does not include children who have returned to live with their birth parents.

How the Virtual School can help

The Virtual School provides information, advice and guidance to:

• parents and others with parental responsibility for a previously looked-after child
• early years education providers
• designated teachers in maintained schools and academies
• other professionals and services promoting the educational achievement of previously looked-after children

Read GOV.UK's guidance on promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children.

Designated teachers for previously looked-after children

Maintained schools and academies must appoint a designated teacher to promote the educational achievement of previously looked-after children. This includes eligible children adopted from state care outside England and Wales.

The designated teacher should make sure school staff understand the needs of previously looked after children and that school policies and practices support them.

They can also advise on using Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) and other support and funding effectively.

The designated teacher should work with parents, carers and guardians to support children's:

• education and progress
• social development
• emotional wellbeing

Read the statutory guidance for designated teachers.

If you are concerned about your child's education

If you are a parent or carer of a previously looked-after child and are concerned about their education, wellbeing or progress, contact their school.

Depending on your concerns, you can ask to speak to their:

• class teacher or form tutor
• designated teacher
• special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
• head of year, if they are at secondary school

Pupil Premium Grant Plus (PPG+) for previously looked-after children

PPG+ is additional government funding intended to improve the educational outcomes of children who are, or have previously been, in care.

Schools receive PPG+ for eligible previously looked after children based on information recorded in the school census.

Funding for children in care is allocated to the local authority and managed by the Virtual School Head. For previously looked-after children, funding is paid directly to schools based on information recorded in the relevant school census, typically the October census for mainstream schools.

School admissions

Admission authorities must give the highest priority to looked-after and previously looked-after children when allocating school places.

The admission requirements for previously looked after children are set out in the school admissions code. They apply to:

• maintained schools
• academies
• free schools

Find out more about school admissions.

Read GOV.UK's guidance on admissions priority for children adopted from state care outside of England.