Looked After Children

Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children

Coombe Hill Junior School is committed to providing strong, personalised support for pupils who are looked after or previously looked after. We recognise that these pupils may have experienced challenges and change in their lives and we work closely with families and carers to ensure they feel safe, valued and ready to learn.

What does looked after mean

A child is looked after if they are in the care of a local authority or if they are provided with accommodation for more than 24 hours under the local authority’s social care duties.
Children who have left care through adoption or a special guardianship order are defined as previously looked after. These pupils remain a priority for our school and continue to receive support to help them thrive.

Our designated teacher

Every school must have a designated teacher for looked after children. At Coombe Hill our designated teacher is Mrs Carlie Englefield, Deputy Head Teacher for inclusion. She oversees the provision, progress and wellbeing of all looked after and previously looked after pupils and ensures that their needs are understood across the school.

How we support our pupils

We pride ourselves on knowing each child well and building steady trusting relationships. Pupils who are looked after or previously looked after receive tailored support, which may include:

• regular ELSA sessions focused on emotional literacy, confidence and wellbeing

• one to one check ins with trusted adults

• support with transitions whether into school, back into class or between year groups

• careful curriculum monitoring to ensure strong progress and early intervention if needed

• priority access to additional pastoral support and wider enrichment opportunities

We also run a small group club for looked after and previously looked after pupils. This provides a safe space for pupils to meet others with shared experiences and take part in arts and crafts and confidence building activities.

Working with families and carers

We recognise the vital role carers and families play in supporting each child. Our ELSA team hosts a regular support group for carers which provides a welcoming space to share experiences, discuss strategies and access guidance. We work in partnership with carers to ensure communication is open and consistent.

Working with the Virtual School

Coombe Hill works closely with the Achieving for Children Virtual School. This partnership ensures that staff access high quality training, guidance and support. We follow Virtual School expectations for Personal Education Plans and we meet regularly with social workers, carers and other professionals to review progress and plan next steps.

Our commitment

Looked after and previously looked after pupils are a priority group at Coombe Hill. We are committed to removing barriers, celebrating strengths and providing steady nurturing relationships that help every child achieve their potential.

If you would like to discuss support for a looked after or previously looked after pupil please contact the inclusion team or our designated teacher.