Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 38
38
Accepted
Review educational support for adopted and previously looked-after children, including statutory framework.
Recommendation
The Department for Education should review the educational support available to adopted children, assessing the impact of the extension of policies to previously looked-after children and whether any further extensions are needed. This review should include: the introduction of a statutory framework for previously looked-after children; requiring local authorities to publish a local offer for previously looked-after children; and expanding the role of Virtual School Heads to include previously looked-after children beyond the provision of information and advice. (Recommendation, Paragraph 93)
Government Response Summary
The government will issue updated statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads and designated teachers, providing a clear framework and updated sections on previously looked-after children. However, it will not extend VSHs' statutory duties beyond advisory at this stage.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We welcome the Committee’s recommendation and are committed to strengthening support for previously looked-after children. To this end, we will issue updated statutory guidance for Virtual School Heads (VSHs) and designated teachers. This will provide a clear framework for improving educational outcomes, including updated sections on previously looked- after children and examples of effective practice. The guidance will help raise awareness of these children’s needs, foster stronger partnerships between schools and local authorities, and support efforts to overcome barriers to progress. While VSHs have corporate parenting responsibilities for looked-after children, their role for previously looked-after children remains advisory. We do not believe it is appropriate at this stage to extend their statutory duties further. However, the updated guidance will build on our ongoing evaluations of the VSH role and support local flexibility and ensure parents and guardians are better informed about the support available, helping to drive continuous improvement across the system.