Topic outline

  • Children in Kinship Care

    This brief video provides useful information for parents and carers.

    Children in Kinship Care – Key Information for Parents and Carers

    In September 2024, the role of Virtual Schools expanded further to specifically include championing the educational attendance, attainment and progress of children in kinship care.  

    What Can I Expect from my Child’s School? 

    • Positive partnerships that support you and your child with all aspects of school.  This includes supporting attendance, pastoral needs and ensuring your child achieves well academically. 
    • Regular communication about the strengths and the needs of your child 
    • Regular communication with your child so that their voice is listened to 
    • Targeted response to any emerging needs 
    • Engagement with wider support, organisations etc  

    Previously Looked After Child (PLAC) Status  

    Children in kinship care can also be a Previously Looked After Child.  For a pupil to be a Previously Looked After Child they will have been in local authority care, and to have immediately moved to a new order of permanency through: 

    • Adoption 
    • Special Guardianship Order (SGO) 
    • Residency Order (RO) ceased 2014 
    • Child Arrangement Order (CAO) 

    If a child is previously looked after, they can receive Pupil Premium Plus funding (PP+) and funding can be applied for from the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF). For more information on both of these please go to the PLAC section of our Moodle. 


    Click here     to access important resources, including:



  • Virtual School Support

    The Virtual School is working to: 

    • develop schools’ understanding of different kinds of kinship care arrangements 
    • support schools to understand the importance of greater focus and visibility for the distinct needs of kinship children and families 
    • understand the role of the school in identifying and supporting their kinship care families 
    • learn how schools can support attendance and engagement of kinship children in education 
    • promote practice that improves the educational attainment of children in kinship care 
    • signpost to support and resources currently available to kinship care families  
    • provide advice and guidance to all kinship carers with special guardianship orders and child arrangement orders, regardless of whether their child was previously looked after by the local authority.