Looked after children

Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults’ procedures 

Identification. 

A ‘Looked after Child’ is a child in public care, who is placed with foster carers, in a residential home or with parents or other relatives. 

Services provided to Looked After Children 

Two-year-olds (if there is space available) 

• Places will be offered to two-year-old children who are looked after, where the placement in the setting will normally last a minimum of three months.  
• Where the child is already in attendance and has a secure attachment with an existing key person a continuation of the existing place will be offered. 

Three- and four-year-olds (if there is space available) 

• Places will be offered for funded three- and four-year -olds who are looked after, where the placement in the setting will normally last a minimum of six weeks. 
• If a child who attends a setting is taken into care and is cared for by a local carer the place will continue to be made available to the child. 

Additional Support 

• The designated person and key person liaise with agencies and professionals involved with the child, and his or her family, and ensure appropriate information is gained and shared.  
• A meeting of professionals involved with the child is convened by the setting at the start of a placement. A Personal Education Plan (PEP) for children over 3 years old is put in place within 10 days of the child becoming looked after. 
• Following this meeting a Care plan for looked after children form is completed. The care plan is reviewed after two weeks, six weeks, three months, and thereafter at three to six monthly intervals. 
• Regular contact will be maintained with the social worker through planned meetings, which will include contribution to the PEP which is reviewed annually.