New Designated Teachers
Are you new to this role? Are you finding it a mind field and not sure which way to turn for support?
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A Designated Teacher for Children in Care acts as a central point of contact to champion their educational needs, improve their academic achievement, and ensure their personal, emotional, and academic needs are met. This includes creating a whole-school culture that prioritizes these students, liaising with social workers and carers, leading the development of their Personal Education Plans (PEPs), and ensuring they are supported through any trauma or attachment issues they may have.
Key responsibilities
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Advocacy and support:Acts as an advocate for the child, helping school staff understand the challenges they may face due to their care experience.
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Educational planning:Leads the development and implementation of each child's Personal Education Plan (PEP), setting and monitoring learning targets. In Gloucestershire, PEPs for school age children are electronic. The PEP is a shared document which includes the information that everyone needs to help their conversations, planning and the delivery of strategies required to make sure the child gets the support and provision needed to succeed. For each statutory review of the care plan, the PEP must include:
- any new information about progress towards education targets since the last PEP review
- information about what has not been taken forward.
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Liaison:Coordinates with various professionals, including social workers, carers, and the Virtual School Head, to ensure a joined-up approach to the child's education and well-being.
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Reporting and accountability:Monitors the academic progress, attainment, and attendance of CiC and previously looked-after children, reporting on their progress to the school governors.
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School-wide culture:Promotes a culture of high expectations among all staff and raises awareness of the specific needs of LAC and previously looked-after children.
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Funding and resources:Ensures that Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) funding is used effectively to support the child's attainment and progress.
- A qualified teacher working at the school as a teacher OR
- A headteacher or acting headteacher
The Designated Teacher for looked after children must be:
Most of the tasks of the role can be delegated to a competent member of staff but the Designated Teacher is accountable for looked after children at the school.
If you have a child a care, you will be allocated an Education Advisor from The Virtual School to support you.
Useful links and guidance to support you in your DT role
| Statutory Guidance | PEP support | Training Plan |
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| The Role of the DT Video (toolkit12) | EPEPs Training | The Role of The Virtual School (toolkit 17) |
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| Audit/Self Evaluation Tool for CiC | Pupil Premium Plus Support Guide | SMART Target Guidance |
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| The Hand Model of the Brain (toolkit 15) | ||
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| Promoting Attendance Resources | Mind of my Own App | Virtual School Newsletter |
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Last reviewed: