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    • Supporting looked after children & previously looked after children

    Supporting Looked After and Previously Looked After Children

    At Gosforth Federated Academies, we are committed to ensuring that all children and young people have the opportunity to thrive, achieve their potential, and feel safe, valued and supported within our school community. We recognise that children who are looked after, previously looked after, or have experienced care arrangements may face unique educational, social, emotional and mental health challenges. We are dedicated to providing the individualised support they need to succeed.

    We understand that past experiences of trauma, loss, attachment difficulties, instability and disrupted education can impact a young person's learning, attendance, behaviour, relationships and emotional wellbeing. Our aim is to provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where these barriers are understood and addressed through a coordinated package of support.

    Our Commitment

    We work closely with students, families, carers, social workers, Virtual School colleagues and other professionals to identify needs early and provide appropriate support. We are committed to:

    • Promoting educational achievement and high aspirations.
    • Supporting attendance, engagement and participation in school life.
    • Developing positive relationships and a sense of belonging.
    • Supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.
    • Reducing barriers to learning.
    • Ensuring smooth transitions between educational settings and key stages.
    • Providing additional academic support where required.

    Support Available

    Support is tailored to each student's individual needs and may include:

    Academic Support

    • Personalised learning plans and targeted interventions.
    • Subject-specific tuition and catch-up support to address gaps in learning.
    • Support with homework, organisation and revision skills.
    • Additional support during key transition points and examination periods.

    • Access to interventions where appropriate.

    Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Support

    • Regular check-ins with key pastoral staff.
    • Access to school counselling services.
    • Support from the Connect Team for emotional wellbeing and engagement.
    • Referrals and collaborative working with the North Tyneside HIVE Team where additional mental health support is required.
    • Access to targeted SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) interventions.

    Inclusion and Pastoral Support

    • Support from the Pastoral Team to overcome barriers to attendance, behaviour and engagement.

    • Identification of individual strengths and needs through a graduated response.
    • Safe spaces and trusted adults within school.
    • Support to develop friendships, resilience and emotional regulation.
    • Liaison with external agencies to ensure coordinated support.

    Personal Education Plans (PEPs)

    For looked after children, we hold termly Personal Education Plan (PEP) meetings involving the young person, carers, social worker, Virtual School and school staff. These meetings enable us to:

    • Review educational progress and achievement.
    • Identify strengths and areas for development.
    • Agree targets and interventions.
    • Monitor the impact of support provided.
    • Ensure Pupil Premium Plus funding is used effectively to improve outcomes.

    Working in Partnership

    We recognise that successful outcomes are achieved through strong partnerships. We work collaboratively with:

    • Parents and carers.
    • Foster carers and kinship carers.
    • Social workers.
    • Virtual School teams.
    • Educational psychologists.
    • CAMHS and other mental health services.
    • The North Tyneside HIVE Team.
    • External support agencies and community services.

    Our goal is to ensure that every child feels supported, listened to and empowered to achieve their aspirations.

    Contact

    If your child is currently looked after by a local authority, has been adopted from care, is subject to a Special Guardianship Order, or a Child Arrangements Order, please inform the school so that we can ensure appropriate support is in place and access any available funding to support their educational progress. Information will be handled sensitively and confidentially.

    For further information or to discuss support available, please contact:

    Ellen Binns | Associate Senior Leader for Inclusion

    Designated Safeguarding Lead, Designated Teacher for Looked After and Previously Looked After Children

    Ellen Binns can be contacted on 0191 236 1700.

     

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