Children and young people in foster care should have the same opportunities to learn, achieve and enjoy education as their peers. Many will receive additional educational support to help them thrive at nursery, school, college or other education settings.
As a foster carer, you play an important role in encouraging learning, supporting attendance, celebrating achievements and helping children and young people feel settled and confident in education.
Support in School
Every maintained school and academy in England must have a designated teacher for looked-after children. The designated teacher helps make sure that a child or young person’s educational needs are understood and that appropriate support is in place.
Children in care also have support from a Virtual School, led by a Virtual School Head. Virtual Schools work with schools, social workers, carers and other professionals to promote the educational achievement of looked-after children.
Personal Education Plans (PEPs)
Looked after children have a Personal Education Plan (PEP) as part of their wider care planning arrangements. A PEP helps identify educational strengths, progress, goals and any support a child may need. It is reviewed regularly with the people involved in supporting the child’s education.
Foster carers are often invited to contribute to discussions about a child’s learning, development and educational wellbeing.
Pupil Premium Plus
Schools and local authorities may be able to access Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) funding for looked after children of statutory school age. This funding is intended to support a child’s educational needs and improve educational outcomes. Decisions about how funding is used should be informed by the child’s Personal Education Plan and overseen through Virtual School arrangements.
School Admissions
In England, state-funded schools must give the highest admissions priority to children who are currently looked after by a local authority and to certain groups of previously looked after children when places are oversubscribed.
If a child comes into foster care and needs a school place, decisions will be made by the relevant professionals and local authority, taking account of the child’s circumstances and educational needs.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Some children in foster care may have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Where concerns are identified, schools, local authorities and other professionals may assess what support is needed.
Depending on a child’s circumstances, support could include school-based SEND provision or, where appropriate, an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment and an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
Early Years Education and Childcare
Young children in foster care may be eligible for funded early education and childcare entitlements, depending on their age and circumstances. Eligibility rules can vary, and some entitlements for children in foster care require local authority agreement.
Additional support may also be available through schemes such as the Early Years Pupil Premium for eligible looked after children attending early years settings.
Working Together
Supporting a child’s education is a shared responsibility. Foster carers may work alongside teachers, designated teachers, social workers, Virtual School staff and other professionals to help children and young people engage in education, develop confidence and achieve their potential.
Educational support arrangements, funding and entitlements can change over time and may vary according to a child’s individual circumstances. Specific decisions are made by the relevant local authority, education setting and professionals involved in the child’s care and education.
Further information and resources
A range of organisations provide information and resources to help adults understand how children’s experiences can affect learning, behaviour and emotional wellbeing.