Looked-after children policies

Primary school examples

Community school in Wandsworth

Riversdale Primary School's looked-after children (LAC) policy covers:

• Circumstances in which a child may become looked after
• Social and emotional issues that LAC may face
• The role and responsibilities in relation to LAC of:
• The designated teacher for LAC
• All staff
• Governors
• Sharing information about LAC
• Staff training
• Personal education plans

Access the policy from this webpage (scroll down to 'Additional policies' to find 'Looked-After Children Policy').

Academy in Gloucestershire

A LAC policy from Charlton Kings Junior School sets out:

• A definition of LAC
• The school's aims and intentions regarding LAC
• The role and responsibilities of the designated teacher for LAC
• The role and responsibilities of the governing body in relation to LAC

For example, the policy says the school will:

• Nominate a designated teacher for LAC who will act as their advocate and co-ordinate support for them
• Nominate a school governor to ensure that the needs of LAC in the school are taken into account at a school management level and to support the designated teacher for LAC
• Support the designated teacher for LAC in carrying out their role by making time available and ensuring that they attend training

Download the policy from the school policies page (search for 'Looked After Children Policy').

Secondary school examples

Academy in Lincolnshire

The LAC policy for De Aston School covers areas such as:

• Promoting, monitoring and reporting on the progress of LAC
• The duties of the designated teacher for LAC
• The role of teaching and support staff in relation to LAC

Access the policy here (search for 'Looked After Children').

Academy in Kingston upon Hull 

St Mary's College has a policy for LAC and previously LAC. It covers topics such as:

• The definitions of LAC and previously LAC
• The roles of the designated teacher and trustee director
• Admission arrangements
• Personal education plans
• Funding

Download the policy from this webpage (search for 'Looked After Children Policy').

Voluntary Aided (VA) school in Enfield

The Latymer School's LAC and previously LAC policy outlines: 

• Responsibilities of governors, the headteacher, the designated teacher for LAC and previously LAC and all other staff
• Similarities in needs between LAC and previously LAC 
• How the pupil premium and pupil premium plus grants are used 
• Alternatives to excluding LAC and previously LAC

Access the policy from the school policies webpage (search for 'Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children Policy'). 

Special school examples

Community special school in Windsor and Maidenhead 

Manor Green School's LAC policy covers topics such as: 

• Working with external agencies and the virtual school head (VSH)
• Training
• Pupil mental health 
• Exclusions
• Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Download the policy here (search for 'Looked After Children (LAC) policy).

Community special school in Leicestershire

Maplewell Hall School has a LAC and previously LAC policy that sets out: 

• Guiding principles 
• Legal definitions 
• The school's aims regarding LAC
• Admissions
• Confidentiality 
• Working with other agencies 

Find the policy in the 'Other Student Policies' section and search for 'LAC' policy.