Guidance for other LAs

Government guidance and associated research acknowledges that children placed a long way from their family and community are more vulnerable to abuse, placement breakdown, interrupted schooling, unmet health needs and losing contact with family and friends. (DH/Utting Report, 1997; DH/DfEE/Home Office - Guidance on the education of young people in public care, 2000; Social Exclusion Unit, A better education for children in care, 2003).

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is working to raise awareness within local authorities for the need to place children as near to their families and communities as possible. These areas of concern are particularly relevant within Kent due to the large number of looked after children placed in the county by other local authorities.

The guidance states that:

• children must not be placed in an out of authority placement without first ensuring that their care, health and education needs will all be met in the new placement (DH/DFEE/Home Office 2000, page 60, paragraph 11.4). The placing authority should  liaise with relevant agencies and service providers in the authority where a placement is being considered as part of the assessment process to determine if it is suitable. This means ensuring that as well as a suitable education place, the young person has access to appropriate curriculum opportunities, study support, Connexions Adviser, etc.
• The placing authority must formally notify the local authority where a placement is being considered before the placement commences. A copy of the child's Personal Education Plan should be attached to the notification form. For children with additional educational needs, the placing authority will need to provide copy of any Statement of Special Education needs or Individual Education Plans (and supporting reports and annual reviews), and up-to-date medical and psychological advice.
• The placing authority should also negotiate agreement on admission to a school before the child is placed where possible, to minimise disruption to the child's education. In order to ensure proper consultation with the host authorities education service, the placing authority must provide full information on the child's educational needs at an early stage.
• The placing authority should make every effort to monitor and review arrangements for the child's education, by liaising with the relevant Education Officers and designated teacher, ensure an up-to-date Personal Education Plan is in place for the child, attending review meetings for statements of SEN or individual Educational Plans and monitoring the educational component of care reviews.

Before contacting us you can check postcodes online via the Office For National Statistics website, to find out if Kent is the correct local authority to contact. For example, Medway and Bromley are not covered by KCC.