Additional financial support for Previously Looked After Children (PLAC) is available for schools through the Pupil Premium Grant which goes directly to schools if the eligible child is entered as such on the School Census.
This additional funding is to be used to improve the attainment of PLAC and close the attainment gap between this group and their peers, reflecting the significant additional barriers faced by these children.
Designated Teachers have a statutory responsibility to play a key part in decisions on how Pupil Premium is used for PLAC. They should encourage parents and carers involvement in deciding how the Pupil Premium is used to support their child and be the main contact for queries about its use.
The Designated Teacher has an important role in ensuring the specific needs of Looked After and Previously Looked After Children are understood by the school’s staff and reflected in how the school uses Pupil Premium to support these children.
For further information, please refer to the:
The DfE Guidance on Pupil Premium details how much pupil premium funding schools and non-mainstream schools receive, how they should spend it, and how the Department of Education hold them to account.
The Education Endowment Foundation Pupil Premium Guide explains what schools have found works best when spending the pupil premium to improve results.
Is my child eligible for Pupil Premium Plus Funding?
In 2013 the DfE introduced Pupil Premium Plus for Looked After and Previously Looked After Children. In doing this, the DfE acknowledged the enduring impact of trauma and loss in children’s lives and the key role of schools in supporting children who have had a difficult start in life.
Pupil Premium funding is available to pupils from reception age to Year 11 in state-funded education in England.
Schools will receive £2,570 for children who have left care (from a local authority or other state care) under an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangement order. DfE Pupil Premium: Overview
You can find more information about the terms of the funding in the DfE Pupil Premium: Conditions of Grant 2024 to 2025.
How can I make sure my child’s school is receiving Pupil Premium Plus Funding?
In order for schools to access the funding, parents and carers must declare their child’s adoptive, SGO or CAO status directly to the school who will then confirm their status on the school census. Parents and carers must provide evidence, for example, a copy of the legal order, or a confirmation letter from the local authority which placed their child. Parents should not need to declare their child’s status again until their child changes school.
How can I make sure that my child is receiving the Pupil Premium Plus Funding? This money is not ring fenced for your child; instead allowing the school flexibility to ensure maximum impact for this cohort of children. Although the school can make the final decision, it should be made following parental consultation and show direct evidence that it is benefiting their cohort of PLAC and according to children’s needs.
For more information please read this Adoption UK Introduction to PP+ leaflet
How do I know what the school is using the Pupil Premium Plus Funding for? Designated teachers should encourage parents' and carers' involvement in deciding how the PP+ is used to support their child and the main contact for queries about its use. This might be done at an information sharing meeting with all parents and carers, or on an individual basis.
Having EPPLAC (Education Plan for Previously Looked After Children) meetings with the Designated Teacher is a very useful and effective way of discussing the progress and needs of the child as well as discussing (if appropriate) the use of Pupil Premium funding. Designated Teachers find it an effective way of understanding and overseeing this cohort of children as well as individual’s needs; using the findings to plan for future training, interventions or resources needed within school.
Information on what the school uses its Pupil Premium funding for, should be available on their website or ask the school’s Designated Teacher for further information in the first instance.
Early Years Pupil Premium funding for Previously Looked After Children
The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) gives providers additional funding to support disadvantaged children accessing an entitlement place. For more information please visit DfE Early years entitlements: local authority funding operational guide 2024 to 2025 and DfE Get Extra Funding for Your Early Years Provider
Once the child enters Reception they will no longer be eligible for EYPP, but the school will be able to access the pupil premium funding for previously looked after children, providing they have identified them on the October census.
For more information on childcare support please refer to Kent County Council Free Childcare Information