# What must schools do for looked-after and previously looked-after children? Source page: https://pupilprotect.co.uk/glossary/lac Last updated: 2026-10-20 Publisher: Pupil Protect (Glacier Labs Ltd) > Every maintained school and academy must appoint a designated teacher to promote the educational achievement of looked-after and previously looked-after children on roll. The designated teacher works with the local authority's virtual school head, who manages pupil premium plus for looked-after children, on each child's personal education plan (PEP), which is reviewed every term. Pupil premium plus is £2,690 per pupil for the 2026 to 2027 financial year. ## Who this covers A **looked-after child** is a child in the care of a local authority under an interim or full care order, or accommodated by it, for example under a voluntary arrangement with the parents' consent (KCSIE 2026, paragraph 235 and footnote 48). A **previously looked-after child** is one who has left care in England or Wales through **adoption**, a **special guardianship order** or a **child arrangements order**, or who was **adopted from state care outside England and Wales** (KCSIE footnote 51). The most common reason children become looked after is abuse or neglect (paragraph 235). KCSIE says previously looked-after children may remain vulnerable, and all staff need the skills to keep both groups safe (paragraph 238). ## The designated teacher Governing bodies of maintained schools must appoint a **designated teacher** under section 20 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008. Academy proprietors must do the same through section 2E of the Academies Act 2010. Since the Children and Social Work Act 2017, the role covers previously looked-after children too (KCSIE paragraph 239). The designated teacher must be a qualified teacher who has completed induction and teaches at the school, or the headteacher, and must have appropriate training (Designated Teacher Regulations 2009, regulation 3). Other schools and colleges should have an appropriately trained teacher take the lead. The statutory guidance says the designated teacher should: - be the **central point of contact** in school for social workers, carers and the virtual school (paragraph 9) - have enough **seniority** to influence decisions and challenge practice (paragraph 6) - make sure staff understand attachment, loss and trauma, keep **high expectations**, and don't treat these children differently in public (paragraph 11) - **lead on the PEP** in school (paragraphs 26 to 34) - help decide how pupil premium plus is used (paragraph 44) In maintained schools and academies, the DSL should work closely with the designated teacher (KCSIE footnote 49). ## The virtual school head Every local authority must appoint a **virtual school head** (VSH) to promote the educational achievement of the children it looks after (Children Act 1989, section 22(3B)). The VSH: - manages **pupil premium plus** for looked-after children (KCSIE paragraph 241) - quality-assures PEPs - gives **information and advice** about previously looked-after children to parents and designated teachers when asked. They are not a corporate parent for this group (paragraph 242) DfE has extended the role without a statutory duty. Since **June 2021** it covers strategic oversight of the attendance, attainment and progress of **children with a social worker**. Since **September 2024** it covers promoting the education of all **children in kinship care** (KCSIE paragraphs 244 to 246). KCSIE 2026 highlights the VSH's part in improving these children's attendance. Section 6 of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 would put a statutory duty on local authorities for children in need and children in kinship care. It is **not yet in force** (checked on legislation.gov.uk, 20 October 2026). ## The personal education plan (PEP) Every looked-after child must have a **PEP** as part of their care plan (KCSIE footnote 55). - **Starting it.** The social worker starts the PEP, with the VSH's support. After an emergency placement it should be started within **10 working days** of the child becoming looked after (Promoting the education guidance, paragraph 23). - **Building it.** When a child becomes looked after or joins the school, the local authority should send the designated teacher the up-to-date PEP urgently. The designated teacher then assesses the child's needs with colleagues such as the SENCO, and develops the PEP (designated teacher guidance, paragraphs 23 to 27). - **Reviewing it.** The VSH should arrange for PEPs to be reviewed **each school term** (Promoting the education guidance, paragraph 28). - **Before a care plan review.** The designated teacher should update the PEP and send it to the social worker and VSH. The care plan is reviewed within 20 working days of the child becoming looked after, then after three months, then every six months (designated teacher guidance, paragraphs 32 and 33). - **Funding.** Every PEP should show how pupil premium plus is helping the child (paragraph 41). ## Pupil premium plus For the **2026 to 2027 financial year**, pupil premium plus is **£2,690 per pupil** for both looked-after and previously looked-after children. A child who also has FSM Ever 6 gets this rate only (pupil premium technical note, section 3). - **For looked-after children,** the money goes to the VSH. The VSH decides with the school how to use it, and links it to the PEP. It can be pooled. - **For previously looked-after children,** it is paid to the school. This depends on parents telling the school about the child's status, so that it is recorded in the census. The designated teacher should encourage them to do so (designated teacher guidance, paragraph 44). - **It is not a personal budget.** It must be spent on evidence-informed approaches from DfE's menu of approaches (conditions of grant, sections 4.2 and 4.3). ## What KCSIE 2026 asks of the DSL - Make sure the right staff know the child's **legal status**, contact arrangements with birth parents and the **delegated authority** given to carers (paragraphs 236 and 237). - Hold the details of the child's **social worker** and the **VSH** for the authority that looks after them (paragraph 237). - For **care leavers** aged 16 and 17, hold the details of their local authority **personal adviser** and liaise with them about concerns (paragraph 247). - Treat absence seriously. Absence can raise known risks for a looked-after child (paragraph 221). ## Admissions and exclusions Admission authorities must give looked-after and previously looked-after children the **highest priority** in their oversubscription criteria. They can't refuse a looked-after child because of challenging behaviour (Promoting the education guidance, paragraphs 16 and 17). If a looked-after child is at risk of suspension or permanent exclusion, the designated teacher should contact the VSH as soon as possible. They should look at how pupil premium plus is being used and consider an interim PEP review. If the child is excluded, the headteacher must notify the VSH without delay (suspension and permanent exclusion guidance, paragraphs 77 and 97). See [suspension and permanent exclusion guidance](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/glossary/exclusion). ## Questions **What counts as a looked after child?** A child who is in the care of a local authority under an interim or full care order, or who is accommodated by the local authority, for example voluntarily with their parents' agreement under section 20 of the Children Act 1989. A child who has left care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order, or who was adopted from state care abroad, is previously looked after. **What is a designated teacher for LAC?** The member of staff a maintained school or academy must appoint to promote the educational achievement of looked-after and previously looked-after children on roll. They must be a qualified teacher who has completed induction and works at the school, or the headteacher, and must have appropriate training. They lead on each looked-after child's PEP in school. **What is a virtual school head?** The local authority officer responsible for promoting the educational achievement of the children it looks after, as if they attended a single school. They manage pupil premium plus for looked-after children, quality-assure PEPs, and give advice on previously looked-after children. Their role has been extended, without a statutory duty, to children with a social worker and children in kinship care. **What is a PEP meeting in school?** A meeting to review a looked-after child's personal education plan, the education part of their care plan. It usually involves the designated teacher, the social worker, the child, their carer and sometimes the virtual school. DfE guidance says virtual school heads should arrange for PEPs to be reviewed each school term. **How much is pupil premium plus 2026?** £2,690 per pupil for the 2026 to 2027 financial year, for both looked-after and previously looked-after children. For looked-after children it goes to the virtual school head, who decides with the school how it is used. For previously looked-after children it is paid to the school. ## Sources - [The designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children (DfE statutory guidance, February 2018, still current)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-teacher-for-looked-after-children), checked 2026-10-20 - [Promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children (DfE statutory guidance, February 2018, still current)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-the-education-of-looked-after-children), checked 2026-10-20 - [Keeping children safe in education 2026, paragraphs 235 to 247 (DfE, in force from 1 September 2026)](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ac3c09c11ed58342ad8e4ac/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2026.pdf), checked 2026-10-20 - [Pupil premium 2026 to 2027: technical note, section 3 (rates) and conditions of grant](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pupil-premium-allocations-and-conditions-of-grant-2026-to-2027), checked 2026-10-20 - [Children's social care: virtual school head role extension (children with a social worker and children in kinship care)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/virtual-school-head-role-extension-to-children-with-a-social-worker), checked 2026-10-20 - [Children and Young Persons Act 2008, section 20 (designated teacher)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2008/23/section/20), checked 2026-10-20 - [Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026, section 6 (promoting educational achievement), not yet in force](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/21/section/6), checked 2026-10-20 - [Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance (DfE, effective from 26 July 2026), paragraphs 77 to 79 and 97](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-suspensions-and-permanent-exclusions), checked 2026-10-20 ## Related - [Safeguarding concern form](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/tools/safeguarding-concern-form): A free form for writing down what you've noticed. - [Private fostering and schools](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/glossary/private-fostering) - [Child in need vs child protection](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/glossary/cin) - [Suspension and permanent exclusion guidance](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/glossary/exclusion) - [Voice of the child](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/glossary/voice-of-the-child) - [Pastoral jobs](https://pupilprotect.co.uk/jobs/role/pastoral)