Children in care
Education for children and young people in care
Parents, foster parents and residential carers with responsibility for young
people in care may find 
Guidance
on the Education of Children and Young People in Public Care
[External Site] a very useful
reference. The guide is designed to assist local
authorities to raise the educational attainment and thus improve the
life chances of young people in their care. This is an aim that can only be
fully met with the support and encouragement of parents and primary
carers.
The guide explains how you can help with young people's personal
educational plans (PEPs). PEPs will help them access resources for any
identified needs, from help in catching up with peers to help settling in at a
new school. Every school will designate a teacher with overall responsibility
to look after the interests of any young people in the school who are in care.
They will liaise with social workers and teaching colleagues to ensure all the
young people have PEPs.
The guide also directs local authorities to secure education at the same time
as a care placement. It sets a timeframe of 20 school days by which a young
person should have an educational place. That educational place should be
full-time, mainstream and local unless any of these criteria are unsuitable for
a particular child's needs.
The guide also covers early years, admissions, exclusions, transitions,
career planning, supporting carers, training and advocacy.
