Pupil Access and Community Services

County Hall

Martineau Lane

Norwich

NR1 2DL

Minicom: (01603) 223833

Mr J Thatcher

BS/JT/GH/MLB 01603 222574

July 2002 01603 222900

Dear Head teacher

The Education of Young People in Public Care

We wrote to you in September 2000 outlining the two key issues regarding Children in the Public Care. Since then Norfolk has made progress in developing its responses to the children and young people for whom it is the Corporate Parent.

All Norfolk schools have a named Designated Teacher for Children Looked After. A Personal Education Plan has been developed and implemented. We have worked very closely with colleagues in Social Services to develop joint strategies and initiatives. Data systems are being improved to enable us to monitor educational achievement and target areas for improvement.

However, early indications from research in Norfolk show that only a minority of children have Personal Education Plans. This is a matter of concern as statistics show that children looked after achieve less well academically than their peers do. In Norfolk we are proud that our figures match or are better than the national figures but we still have a long way to go to be sure that all our children are achieving their potential. Personal Education Plans are a key tool for monitoring educational progress and planning future targets and are a statutory requirement.

Our Elected Members are very interested in their role as Corporate Parents and are keen to monitor the progress and development of their children. They are meeting in July with Governors for a Corporate Parenting Event to discuss how they can develop their role as Corporate Parents.

The Norfolk Psychological Service has a key role in promoting the educational achievement of children looked after and we enclose a new leaflet which gives details of the Education Co-ordinators who are located across the county, and who can offer a range of services for children looked after and provide advice and access to support for Designated Teachers.

We would be grateful if you would ensure that your Designated Teacher for Children Looked After has a copy of the information attached to this letter and that your school, as part of the Corporate Parent, is ensuring that any children looked after for whom you are responsible are being supported to achieve their potential.

Yours sincerely

Dr Bryan Slater David Wright

Director of Education Director of Social Services

encs:

EC Leaflet / The Role of the Designated Teacher / Briefing Notes for Schools receiving a looked after child