What works: The role of LAC Education Coordinator (RCT) and Personal Education Plans (PEP) March 2016 – Inspire me! Looked After People and Care Leavers transition and progression in post 16 Learning Conference Hannah Bevan, LAC Education Coordinator (RCT)

Corporate Parenting is: ‘The collective responsibility across services and across local authorities, to safeguard and promote the life chances of looked after children’ Who is a Corporate Parent? - Everyone who works with Looked After young people and care leavers have the responsibility of a corporate parent. This can be a social worker, councillor and other professionals who work in health, housing and education.

Roles and responsibilities of the Looked After Children Education Coordinator: Welsh Government objectives ; Promote the education of LAC; LAC Education Coordinators in other authorities; Engaging looked after children; Bridge the gap regarding SEN, admission arrangements policy etc; Challenge in cases of exclusion; Disseminate good practice; Designated teachers for LAC in each school; Monitor attainment of LAC; LAC reviews; PEPs; Post 16 transition.

Requirement for a Personal Education Plan (PEP) Local authorities are required under the Children Act 2004 to ensure that all children in their care have a Personal Education Plan within 20 school days of entering care or joining a new school. The PEP should: ensure access to services and support; contribute to stability; minimise disruption and broken schooling; signal particular educational needs; establish clear goals; and act as a record of progress and achievement.

384 Total RCT LAC of Statutory school age

LA Education Services and Children’s Services Access and Inclusion (EPS, SEN, LSS, BSS) Children’s Services (SW, IROs, Foster Care Team) LAC Health and YOS RCT LAC Team LAC EPs LAC Education Coordinator PEP Coordinator Education Support Workers Post 16 provision and support EPC HE Colleges i.e. Coleg y Cymoedd Care 2 Work/ Step in the Right Direction Aftercare Careers Wales/ JCP

Relevant guidance and policies RCT Personal Education Plans for Looked after Children: Guidance for professionals June 2015 Towards a Stable Life and a Brighter Future (June 2007) Statutory Guidance: The role and responsibilities of the designated teacher for looked after children looked-after-children looked-after-children The role and responsibilities of the designated teacher for looked after children. (Ref DCSF – 2009) Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014 Welsh Government: Raising the ambitions and educational attainment of children who are looked after in Wales (January 2016) CASCADE research Under development within RCT.....

Contact details: Hannah Bevan- Education Coordinator for LAC, LAC Education Team, Ty Trevithick, Abercynon, Mountain Ash, CF45 4UQ. Tel:

LAC yearly overview Coleg Y Cymoedd Jackie Harris Team Leader & LAC Keyworker

January – enrolment On application interview with Learner Services, LAC Keyworker or LSA to greet and meet with identified YP to conduct Learner support interview. YP has course information, grants and travel material provided by Learner Services staff. LAC keyworker or Learner Support manager attends school reviews of identified LAC YP and gather evidence from Careers Wales & SEN statements. February/M arch LAC Keyworker attends 16+ Social Services team meetings to identify learners that have/are applying to college. Lac keyworker meetings with Council Education Safeguarding teams to identify out of county learners currently educated in catchment area. Set up of LAC database March LAC Advice days with LAC keyworker at each campus. Learners, Social workers & Foster Carers invited along with the council Education Safeguarding Officers. Day includes tour of campus, power point information and Learner Support Interviews completed. Evidence of any SEN learners provided by Social Services etc to share with Learner Support team to identify needs/provision required. AprilEarly distribution of EMA/WGLG packs- Learner Services.

June Open visits as/when required. Invite in learners who didn’t attend Advice day & in particular learners who have a diagnosis of ASD or Anxiety. July LAC packs distributed inc ‘What to expect’ information, map of campus grounds & key contact information. August Start checking enrolment of LAC learners and organise timetable of contact September Transition work with YP:1-1 sessions, focus groups, Drop In sessions Work with Learner Services in regards to free meals entitlement, FCF applications, DBS checks and travel issues. Ongoing1.Contact with LAC keyworker if required. All LAC YP ed every half term. LEAP checked weekly for any decline in attendance or behaviour and SMART target setting