Reading List

These official sources support the course content and are useful for supervision, policy review, education meetings and refresher learning. The list includes England and NICE sources used in the course, with separate signposting for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland so staff understand differences in education, attendance and exclusion frameworks across the UK.

England core guidance

• Promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children
  Statutory guidance on the duties of local authorities and virtual school heads to promote educational achievement for looked-after and previously looked-after children.
• Working together to improve school attendance
  Guidance on identifying barriers to attendance, using early support and coordinating action around persistent and severe absence.
• School suspensions and permanent exclusions
  Guidance on suspension and permanent exclusion, relevant when homes support children through disruption, review and reintegration to school.
• NICE NG205: Looked-after children and young people
  Guidance on placement stability, nurturing relationships, trauma-informed support and joined-up care for looked-after children and young people.
• Children's homes regulations, including quality standards: guide
  Official guide to the Children's Homes Regulations 2015, explaining how homes should promote education, welfare and day-to-day care.
• Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF): children's homes
  Current inspection framework describing how Ofsted assesses whether children are helped to make progress in education and development.

Wales signposting

• Personal education plans for children looked after: draft guidance for practitioners (HTML)
  Wales guidance on PEP purpose, content, review and the professionals involved in education planning.
• Making a difference: a guide to the designated person for children looked after in Wales (HTML)
  Guidance on educational support, designated-person responsibilities and joint working around care-experienced learners.

Scotland signposting

• These Are Our Bairns
  Scottish Government guidance on corporate parenting, including the educational role of schools, carers and partner agencies for looked-after children.

Northern Ireland signposting

• Circular 2023/03 - Revised Personal Education Plan Guidance for Children Looked After
  Northern Ireland guidance on Personal Education Plans and the structure of educational support for children looked after.

For daily practice, start with the child's current education plan and your home's procedures, then consult these official sources when wider guidance is needed.