The Designated Teacher for Looked After Children is Mrs H. Shaw (Head Teacher). Mrs Shaw is also Designated Lead for Safeguarding. She ensures that all teachers in school understand the implications for those children who are looked after (in Local Authority care) and have SEN and or emotional/well-being needs. 

  

Mrs Shaw works closely with Mrs Henson (SENCO) and the Virtual Schools Team to ensure that effective systems are in place to support these children and additional funding, advice and support from The Virtual School such as Full Circle, is accessed when necessary. This sometimes means liaising with Virtual Schools of other Local Authorities, other than Durham. 

  

LAC with SEN will have a support plan which is reviewed every term. All Looked After Children have a statutory care plan, which is drawn up and reviewed by the Local Authority. Looked After Children also have a Personal Education Plan (PEP), which is a statutory requirement for Looked After Children in educational provision. For Durham Looked After Children, a new electronic PEP system (Welfare Call) is now being used. 

  

The Support Plan and the PEP compliment each other, and are both reviewed termly by Mrs Henson and Mrs Shaw. A termly PEP review is held with carers, the school and the child's designated social worker. The child's parents are able to attend their child's PEP review. Children's views are sought as part of the PEP review process and when appropriate the Looked After Child also attends their PEP review. 

  

Looked After Reviews chaired by the Independent Reviewing Officer are held in the child's foster home and are also attended by Mrs Shaw as Designated Person for Looked After Children. 

  

If a Looked After Child with SEN requires further assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) we are particularly aware of the need to avoid any delays for Looked After Children and carry out the EHC needs assessment in the shortest possible timescale. We will work closely with the Virtual School, external agencies, carers and other professionals.  

 

A significant amount of children may be undiagnosed when they begin to be looked after and we work quickly and effectively to assess any undiagnosed SEN to ensure that they are addressed as quickly as possible.  

 

The designated teacher will monitor each child's achievement and ensure that they have the support they require within school by:  

•  meeting with the child 
•  ensuring that each child has a PEP 
•  working closely with the SENCO to request support from outside agencies when needed 

A significant amount of children may be undiagnosed when they begin to be looked after and we work quickly and effectively to assess any undiagnosed SEN to ensure that they are addressed as quickly as possible. 

 

The designated teacher will monitor each child's achievement and ensure that they have the support they require within school by: 

•  meeting with the child
•  ensuring that each child has a PEP
•  working closely with the SENCO to request support from outside agencies when needed