Virtual School for children previously in care

What children previously in care means

Children Previously in Care are children or young people who:

• are no longer in the care of local authority in England and Wales because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements order, or
• were adopted from ‘state care’ outside England and Wales.

‘State care’ is care provided by a public authority, a religious organisation, or any other organisation whose sole or main purpose is to benefit society.

What we do for children previously in care

We promote the educational achievement of children previously in care who are educated in Brighton & Hove. We do not have the same statutory responsibilities or rights to get information about day-to-day progress for individual children previously in care, as we do for children in care.

However, by law we must work to ensure children previously in care do the best they can in their education. We provide information and advice on education matters to children previously in care educated in Brighton & Hove. We do this from the start of their education through to the end of compulsory education.

How we can help

We provide:

• information and advice on education matters including the Personal Education Plan (PEP) to:
  • parents
  • carers
  • education staff
  • other professionals
• workshops and clinics for parents and carers
• training and development opportunities for education staff, including Designated Teachers for children in care or previously in care

There are many areas of education and linked services that we can provide information and advice on, including:

• School Admissions - Priority 1
• Special Educational Needs - with our SEN team
• signposting to relevant services, such as:
  • Brighton & Hove Inclusion Support Services
  • Adoption (Special Guardian) Support Fund
• working together, especially through the Personal Education Plan process and effective use of the Pupil Premium Plus grant, with:
  • education staff
  • parents and carers
  • other professionals

Help us improve

We also want to learn from you to improve our work. If you're a young person previously in care, a parent/carer, education staff or other professional, email us with your views about how we can best promote the education of children previously in care in Brighton & Hove.