Information for schools, settings and governors

It is a statutory requirement under the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 to appoint a designated teacher to promote the educational achievement of looked after children who are on the school roll. The teacher should provide an annual report to the governing body who should also appoint a member to oversee the provision and work with the teacher to champion the needs of children in care.

Further information is available from GOV.UK:

• DfE – Supporting the attainment of disadvantaged pupils: Briefing for school leaders (Nov 2015)
• DfE Statutory guidance on the roles and responsibilities of the Designated Teacher (February 2018)
• DfE Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities on Promoting the Education of Looked After Children (February 2018)
• Improving the attainment of looked-after children in primary schools: guidance for schools
• Improving the attainment of looked-after children in secondary schools: guidance for schools

The Local Authority is required to maintain an up-to-date record of designated teachers for children in care.  Please inform our CiC Data Coordinator, Sarah Short of any changes by emailing sarah.short@devon.gov.uk or call 01392 385353

If you are a new designated teacher you may find our information for children and young people helpful as it provides a straightforward introduction to The Virtual School and some of the key processes.

• Role of the designated teacher – checklist (May 2016)
• Report to the governing body
• Role of the governing body
• Register of children in care
• GOV.UK – charging for school activities
• The Children Act 2004
• Model policy for the education of looked after children in schools and settings (February 2019)
• Protocol for Supporting CiC in Schools (including protocol for eliminating exclusions of C&YP in Care) June 2018.
• Information on guidance provided to HMI on inspecting school provision for children in care

Training opportunities for Designated Teachers:

DT Network Meetings take place each term in North, South Exeter and East Devon and are an opportunity for further training and guidance as well as networking with DTs from other schools. The meetings are supported by your Area Learning Advocates, the Educational Psychology Service and School Improvement. Dates and venues are:

• 10 March 2020, 9:30am-12:30pm at Newcourt Community Centre, Exeter
• 11 March 2010, 9:30am-12:30pm at The Watermark, Ivybridge
• 12 March 2020, 9:30am-12:30pm at Barnstaple Library

Book your place on a DT network meeting (places are limited to 30 on each date so please book early).

The Summer term DT networks are planned for 7/8/9 July 2020 – booking instructions/details will be sent to DTs nearer the time.

• Designated Teachers ‘ Training Conference – 9 October 2020 at Tiverton Hotel, full details about the conference available here.

Attachment Based Mentoring: Free training (2020)
These training courses are free of charge and open to all schools supporting a Devon based child. Schools have reported greatest impact from the 3 day training when both a senior leader and a member of pastoral staff have attended. 3.5 day extensive course and one day overview courses both available.

Attachment Based Mentoring: a Relational Approach to Learning, Development and Wellbeing (3.5 day course)

ABM aims to develop belief and understanding of how schools can support all children through both individual relationships with them and systems which are responsive to their needs. ABM was conceived by thinking about the needs of the child in school and applying the theory and research which we felt would be most helpful for them. The theoretical underpinnings come from the areas of neuroscience, attachment and connection, resiliency, solution focused therapy, restorative approaches and cognitive science. It is both a universal and targeted approach for those who are most in need and require more intensive support. We emphasise the importance of relational skills and the need to be reflective about how we are with children, as well as what we do. We aim to turn sometimes complex theory into practical approaches that can make a difference. Now in its 5th year the courses are always oversubscribed and we recommend booking early.

Dates and venues:

• 13, 14, 20 January 2020 at High Bickington Community Centre (plus a half day supervision session on 3 March 2020)
• 9, 10, 20 March at Exminster Healthy Living Centre (plus a half day supervision session on 29 April 2020Further 2020 dates to be confirmed

Attachment based mentoring: Overview for Designated Teachers, SENCos & Senior Leaders (1 day course)

Dates and venues:

Further 2020 dates to be confirmed

Book your place online
(note: you need to be logged in to make bookings)

For queries please contact: LDP-CPD@babcockinternational.com or call: 01392 287224

Working with Foster Carers

This is just like working with parents but more regular contact helps the foster carer support the work Teachers are doing. Area Learning Advocates are able to provide support for Foster Carers and can be contacted via Virtual School team.

Working with educational psychologists (EPs)

EPs work in all DCC schools, supporting children in care by planning meetings, individual assessments and interventions.  They particularly prioritise children in care who are at risk of exclusion, in a transition phase, during a managed move or new into care. Free training sessions offered by EPs to Designated Teachers can be found above, or by attending the DT Network meetings (info above) or the Designated Teacher Conference page also on a limited basis in schools. Traded training can also be arranged.

More details on the Educational Psychology Team can be found here or by calling 01392 287233.

If you are requested additional EP support other than that already provided to your school, then please contact your Area Learning Advocate.

Children in care who go missing from schools

The first point of contact should be the foster carer, however, if they are not contactable the school should follow its usual processes and also contact the emergency Fostering Devon Duty Team (link available to DCC staff only) or call 01392 383000 and ask for ‘Fostering Devon Duty’. Further information can be found at looked-after children who go missing. The Devon & Torbay Safeguarding Children Boards website also provides detailed guidance on missing children and child sexual exploitation

Holidays in term time

The Virtual School does not support holidays in term time and carers requesting time off school to go on holiday will need the agreement of the Virtual School Headteacher and the social worker. The Virtual School attendance policy can be found here.

• New into care protocol (April 2016)
• Understanding CYP with maths difficulties guidance (January 2017)
• CAMHS pathway for children in care – information for headteachers/designated teachers (May 2017)
• LGBT Support: Young Stone wall, Proud to be

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC)

• Supporting children where English isn’t their first language
• Unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) – Advocate for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) Colin Mitchell, email colin.d.mitchell@devon.gov.uk or call 07484345897
• Details of support available from the EP Service at Babcock LDP available here

Attendance of CiC

We are concerned that recently school attendance of children in care has declined. To address this issue we ask that:

• Our VS Administrator, Kate Clarke (kate.clarke@devon.gov.uk) is notified when the attendance level for any child in care drops below 95%. This information will be passed to our Area Learning Advocates who will follow this up with the relevant Social Worker.
• When a child in care fails to arrive for school on any given day, that you contact their foster carer, on the same day, to ascertain the reason for non-attendance.
• CiC Attendance policy for children in care (August 2018) v3

The Virtual School use Welfare Call for all schools that do not use SIMs pupil database, also for independent schools and those outside of Devon that have a Devon Child in Care on roll. Welfare Call will call schools twice per day to gather attendance information for Devon children in care.

Educating Out of Year Group (Practice guidance for Devon schools)

Best practice guidance for parents, school staff and other professionals in Devon, with regards to children being educated
outside of their chronological year group.

Educating out of year group (Practice guidance for Devon schools)

Transitions guidance

Babcock LDP Educational Psychology and Early Years Services have collaborated with Devon County Council to produce guidance for schools and settings to promote successful transitions across all phases of education. Transitions are very important for children and young people and can be a challenging and anxiety-provoking time, particularly when the child or young person is vulnerable or has Special Educational Needs and/or a disability that require understanding and support over the transition. These guidance documents aim to support parents/carers, staff and other professionals in ensuring high quality transition practice across Devon.

The documents below can be found on the Babcock website here:

• transitions in early years
• transitions in primary and secondary education
• transition from school to further education and training
• transition from college