Section outline

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    Children in Kinship Care

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    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. This responsibility extends across all education phases, including post-16 education. For sixth forms, colleges, specialist post-16 settings and other providers, this includes promoting participation, achievement, retention, progression and successful transition into adulthood for young people in kinship care.  

    What is kinship care? 

    Kinship care is when a child or young person lives full-time, or most of the time, with a relative or close family friend, usually because their parents are unable to care for them. You might see kinship carers referred to as 'family and friends carers' or 'connected people' by local authorities and in some documents. Young people in post-16 education may remain in kinship arrangements whilst progressing through sixth form, college, training, apprenticeships or other education pathways.  

    Types of kinship care 

    • special guardianship orders 

    • child arrangements orders 

    • adoption  

    • family and friends foster care 

    • private fostering arrangements 

    • informal arrangements 

    If you would like more information about the different types of kinship care, please click on the following link: 

    Previously looked-after child (PLAC) status 

    Children and young people in kinship care can also be a previously looked-after child (PLAC). For a learner to be a previously looked-after child, they will have been in local authority care and immediately moved to a new permanent arrangement through: 

    • adoption 

    • special guardianship order (SGO) 

    • residence order (RO) (prior to 2014) 

    • child arrangements order (CAO) 

    Education staff should be aware that previously looked-after child status remains relevant beyond compulsory school age because a young person's care history and lived experience may continue to influence their educational experiences, wellbeing and support needs. 

    Whilst pupil premium plus is not available in post-16 education, young people may be eligible for other forms of support, including: 

    • 16-19 Bursary Fund support 

    • Vulnerable Student Bursary (where eligibility criteria are met) 

    • Discretionary college hardship funds 

    • Care-experienced student support in further and higher education 

    • Additional transition and progression support 

    For more information, please refer to the PLAC section of our Moodle.  

    Key aims 

    • raise the visibility of the distinct needs of young people in different types of kinship care arrangements and the disadvantages they may experience 

    • promote practice that supports engagement, participation, attendance and achievement in post-16 education and training 

    • promote practice that improves educational outcomes, progression and future opportunities, helping to reduce gaps in attainment 

    • provide advice and information, on request, to kinship carers with special guardianship orders and child arrangements orders 

    • support successful transitions into employment, apprenticeships, higher education and adulthood  

    Click here to access important resources, including:

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    Responsibilities of Schools and Education Settings

    The education provider's responsibilities for young people who are in kinship care: 

    • identify and know their learners in kinship care and understand the needs of kinship families where this information has been appropriately shared 

    • key colleagues (including DSL, safeguarding leads, personal tutors, additional learning support staff, SEND teams, attendance and progress leads and senior leaders) should liaise and collaborate to ensure consistency in support for learners in kinship care 

    • understand the importance of greater focus and visibility for the distinct needs of kinship young people and families 

    • identify and understand barriers that may affect engagement, participation, attendance, wellbeing, achievement and progression 

    • ensure prioritisation of the cohort and a targeted response where additional support is needed 

    • ensure relationships, learner voice and family engagement are at the centre of any approach 

    • utilise wider support and partnerships including Virtual School services, local authorities, health services, careers advisers and community organisations 

    • promote high aspirations and support informed decision-making about future education, employment and training pathways 

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    Virtual School Support

    The Virtual School is working to: 

    • develop education providers' understanding of different kinds of kinship care arrangements 

    • support post-16 providers to understand the importance of greater focus and visibility for the distinct needs of kinship young people and families 

    • support providers to understand their role in identifying and supporting learners from kinship care families 

    • promote approaches that support attendance, participation and engagement in post-16 education 

    • promote practice that improves educational achievement, progression and long-term outcomes for young people in kinship care 

    • signpost to support and resources currently available to kinship care families 

    • provide advice and guidance to kinship carers with special guardianship orders and child arrangements orders, regardless of whether their young person was previously looked after by the local authority 

    • support partnership working between education providers, kinship families and relevant agencies  

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    Key Documents

    • Promoting the Education of Children with a Social Worker and Children in Kinship Care Arrangements: Virtual School Head Role Extension  

    • Children and Families Act 2014 

    • SEND Code of Practice: 0-25 Years 

    • Keeping Children Safe in Education (including guidance relevant to colleges and further education providers) 

    • 16-19 Bursary Fund Guidance