- For residents
- Schools, learning and early years
- Adult courses and learning
- Subsites
- The HOPE Virtual School
The system used for Personal Education Plans and what you must do as a social worker.
We're using the Welfare Call EPEP system for Personal Education Plans. All social workers can access PEPs online.
If you have any issues getting into and using the system, contact Welfare Call, 01226 716333.
If you're a social worker, you must attend and contribute to PEP meetings. This is in addition to reading and signing off the finalised PEP.
What you can do to improve attendance, holidays in term time, exclusions and reduced timetables.
School attendance
Why attendance matters
It’s very important that children and young people in care go to school or their education setting every day. Good attendance helps them do well in their education.
If pupils are absent a lot they may fall behind with their school work and do less well in exams. According to the Department for Education (DfE), 17 days absent in a school year pdf can mean a drop in a GCSE grade in all subjects (35 KB) .
Students who attend school regularly could be at less risk of getting involved in antisocial or risky behaviour Go to http://www.education.ox.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/301411.pdf (opens new window). Good attendance, including arriving on time, also shows potential employers that a young person is reliable.
The HOPE monitors attendance and exclusions of all our young people in care. We must also report to the DfE any of our pupils who miss 19 or more school days a year for any reason. Young people who miss 19 days of school or more are seen as being persistently absent. 19 days is the same as missing 38 sessions, or having 4 weeks off in term time during the school year.
What you can do to improve attendance
To help a child or young person go to their education setting every day:
- make sure they can get there
- make sure the foster carer understands that the child must go to school
- tell the school about the child’s behaviour so the school can help: for example, establish a code word if the child feels anxious and needs space
- tell the school about changes that may affect the child’s life, or make sure the carer knows to do so
- make sure the carer knows to tell the school if the child can’t attend
- try not to change a child’s care placement, which could mean a change of school
- have a transfer plan when a child moves from primary to secondary school
- make sure planned moves outside the usual transfer times, such as from primary to secondary school, happen at the start of term, as mid-term moves can be even more disruptive
- discuss the child’s attendance at each Personal Education Plan meeting, and follow up on any issues
- talk about attendance at every supervision meeting with the child’s carer
- discuss the child’s attendance record at the carer’s review
The HOPE sends attendance data to social care managers each term on young people in care:
- whose attendance is 95% and above
- whose attendance is less than 90%
- who have had a fixed term exclusion
You should review this data every term for all the children and young people you’re responsible for.
Holidays in term time
Children must not have holidays during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If you get a request from a carer for a holiday in term time, you must do an document Absence Request form (386 KB) . You must do the request at least 4 weeks before the proposed absence.
We won't consider a holiday request if a child's attendance for the last term is below 94%, unless it's for compassionate reasons such as a bereavement.
You must get permission from:
- the relevant Practice Lead or Service Manager
- the Head of Permanency and Specialist Services
- The HOPE headteacher
- the school's headteacher
Exclusions
Children in care are more likely to be excluded from school. There are many reasons for this, including previous trauma, moving schools or care placements a lot and having complex needs.
Education settings must follow statutory school exclusion government guidance Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-exclusion (opens new window) if they want to exclude a child in care.
This includes:
- working with you, the carer and The HOPE to avoid an exclusion
- having strategies to reduce the need for exclusion: permanent exclusion should be a last resort
- talking to us about other education settings a child can go to from the first day of their exclusion
Contact The HOPE lead for the young person if:
- they’re at risk of exclusion
- they are excluded
Reduced timetables
Sometimes an education setting may consider putting a child onto a reduced or part time timetable. This shouldn’t happen often because all children in care should be in full time education in line with government guidelines.
If a school suggests a reduced timetable for a child you’re responsible for, make sure the setting has contacted the lead person for the child at The HOPE. Settings must talk to us before making a significant change to a timetable.
We’ll have a meeting to see if we can agree to a reduced timetable. You and the young person’s carer must come. At the meeting we’ll do a document reintegration plan and review form (57 KB) .
See our pdf reintegration plan flowchart (283 KB) so that you understand the process.
If we agree on a reduced timetable, the setting should hold a review meeting about the new timetable within 6 weeks, and then every 6 weeks until the pupil returns to full time provision.
You must contact us if you're thinking about changing a child's education setting. Only those with parental responsibility for the child can do this. Carers can't apply for a school place.
If a child has to move home, try to make sure this doesn't disrupt their education. The Department for Education's statutory guidance Go to https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683556/Promoting_the_education_of_looked-after_children_and_previously_looked-after_children.pdf (opens new window) for local authorities says the child's social worker must do everything possible to minimise disruption to their education, particularly at key stage 4 (KS4).
If a young person needs to move schools in KS4 you must get agreement from:
- The HOPE headteacher
- the local authority's Director of Children and Families (The HOPE or your manager will tell you who this is and how to contact them)
See the key points from document statutory guidance about changing an education placement (359 KB) .
If a child in care has started a new school, you must tell the school's designated teacher (DT) and give them a copy of the child's latest Personal Education Plans (PEP).
You must tell the DT:
- the child's age, care status and address
- the child's carer's name, phone number and email address
- your name, address, phone number and email address
- the child's school history
- the child's emergency contact and medical information
- if a child with SEND has an EHC plans or if they're having their SEND met through school support
- about any support issues, such as access needs due to disability
- their current attainment for maths and English, and GCSE subjects if the child is in Year 10 or 11
- who has parental responsibility for the child and any contact restrictions
- contact details for the child's lead staff member at The HOPE (name, work address and phone number and email)
You must also arrange a Personal Education Plan meeting as soon as possible.
We'll work with you, other local authority staff and the child's carer to try to find a child in care a suitable school place.
We always aim to get a full time place in an education setting that's rated good or better' by Ofsted.
If you're the social worker for a child in care (CiC), you must apply for an education place for them. Only those with parental responsibility for the child can do this. Carers can't apply for a school place.
You must always use the foster carer's home address as the child's home address, whether the child is:
- Section 20
- on a Care Order
- on an Interim Care Order
Schools that manage their own admissions
Some schools, such as academies and voluntary aided schools, manage their own admissions. In these cases, you must apply directly to the school.
Bristol City Council has information about school admission arrangements, including which schools manage their own admissions. Check the school name and the year you're applying for, because the arrangements can change each year.
If the school has its own admission arrangements:
- apply to the school directly
- email the school admissions team on school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk to tell them you've applied
- Contact us to tell us that you've applied
The school admissions team and The HOPE will track the child's application to make sure they're placed quickly.
Schools that don't manage their own admissions
Check the school admission arrangements for the school name and the year you're applying for, because the arrangements can change each year.
If the school uses Bristol City Council's admissions arrangements, apply online for a place Go to https://parent.bristol.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/admissions (opens new window).
What happens if a school refuses to admit a child in care (CiC)
The School Admissions Code Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2 (opens new window) says schools must admit a CiC even if the school is oversubscribed. If a school refuses to admit a CiC the admission authority can make the school admit them, or start the appeals process with an independent school appeals panel.
The School Admissions Code also says that the local authority (LA) has the power to direct all council-run schools to take a CiC regardless of which LA the school or child is in. If a school refuses to take a CiC, the social worker must email Bristol's school admissions team on school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk.
If the school is an academy, Bristol's school admissions lead will work with the admissions manager to admit the child voluntarily if the academy is full. The Secretary of State may become involved if the academy refuses to admit the child.
No child in care should be without a school place for more than 20 days.
In year admissions are when a young person moves to a new school during the school year.
The process for in year admissions is the same as for normal admissions. Follow the How to apply for a school place for a child in care guidance.
Early years admissions for 2 to 4 year olds
If a child in care is 2 years old you can apply for a Free early education for two year olds.
If the child is 3 or 4 years old they can get 15 and 30 hours free childcare for three and four year olds.
How to find an early years education setting
Before you choose an early years setting:
- check the Ofsted inspection report Go to https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/?beta_opt_out=1 (opens new window)
- see Bristol Early Years Go to https://www.bristolearlyyears.org.uk/early-learning (opens new window)
- Find a childcare provider
- contact anne.mortimore@bristol.gov.uk at The HOPE
You could also look at an individual school's website and arrange a visit.
Check the admissions process for children in care starting Reception. Find this on the local authority's schools admissions website. If the child lives in Bristol:
- find out about New reception primary school place
- apply for a Bristol school place Go to https://parent.bristol.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/admissions (opens new window)
The person with parental responsibility for the child must do the application. Carers can't apply for a school place. The application deadline is 15 January in the year the child starts Reception. Try to apply before the end of December to be in good time for the January deadline.
If you have questions:
- email school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk
- call the school admissions team on 0117 903 7694
- email anne.mortimore@bristol.gov.uk at The HOPE
The person with parental responsibility for the child must do the application. Carers can't apply for a school place.
You must apply by 31 October of the year before the child starts secondary school. The deadline often falls during the school holidays, so try to apply before the holidays start.
All children in care will get a place at their first choice if the school gets the application on time. If you don't apply by 31 October, you might not get your first choice.
New year 7 secondary school place.
If you have questions:
- email school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk
- call the school admissions team on 0117 903 7694
- contact The HOPE lead for the child
What to do when a child transfers from primary to secondary school
As well as applying for the school place, you must:
- arrange a PEP meeting at the primary school in May or June of Year 6, and invite the designated teachers from the primary and secondary school
- find out how the child feels about moving schools and what support they'd like
- make sure the child's concerns are addressed at the meeting
- understand the support in place for the child
- make sure the child knows who the key people are at their new school, such as the designated teacher, Head of Year and their learning mentor
- set a date at the meeting for a PEP meeting early on in Year 7
The usual key stage school transfers are from:
- early years to primary school
- primary school to secondary school
Sometimes a child has to change schools outside of these times.
For a Bristol school place, see Apply for a school place for a child in care.
If you have questions:
- email school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk
- call the school admissions team on 0117 903 7694
- contact The HOPE lead lead for the young person
If a child or young person needs to move to a new school outside of Bristol, you must check the new local authority's website for their school admissions process. If you need help with this, contact The HOPE.
You should also email Bristol City Council's school admissions team on school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk to tell them you have submitted a child in care admissions form. The team can then oversee the process.
Children and young people with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan have their school place agreed outside the standard admissions process. See Admissions for children with Special Educational Needs.
If a child in care has an EHC plan and they need to change schools, you must raise this at an annual review meeting.
If a child's address changes or they move to a different education setting
You must tell Bristol City Council's SEND inclusion officer as soon as a child moves to a different home, or you think a child is going to move.
You must also tell the SEND inclusion officer:
- the child's new home address
- the child's new host local authority, if not Bristol City Council
- if the new home is an independent fostering agency (IFA) or Bristol City Council carer, or a children's home
- if the young person's care status has changed
If the child needs to move to a different education setting, you must speak to Bristol City Council's SEND Inclusion Officer first. They will consult an appropriate education provider. This can take up to 15 working days.
There are statutory timescales around securing school places for children in care. If you're the social worker for an unaccompanied asylum seeking child, contact The HOPE within two working days of the child coming into care. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can find a school place for the child.
You should contact:
- leanne.bishop@bristol.gov.uk for statutory school age UASC (Reception to Year 11)
- penny.russell@bristol.gov.uk for post 16 UASC
If a child being looked after by another local authority needs a place in a Bristol school, you'll need to apply through the Bristol school admissions team. Contact them on:
- 0117 903 7694
- school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk
The HOPE can support you with this process. Contact us.
We can:
- tell you about local schools
- talk to you about the child's needs
- support your school admission application to help the young person start as soon as possible
- possibly attend a Personal Education Plan (PEP) meeting if no education representative from your council is available
You must:
- give us the child's details
- provide all relevant information about the child to support their education, including previous PEPs
- tell the school's designated teacher (DT) for children in care and ensure they receive a copy of the latest PEP
- put us in touch with someone from the child's home local authority for ongoing contact
- allocate the Pupil Premium and other resources the school might have
Information for social care staff about designated teachers, how to support children with SEND, extra funding for children in care and how to support post 16 young people.
Social care staff have an important role in supporting the education of children in care, whether you're the:
- social worker for the child
- carer's supervising social worker
You should stay in touch with the young person's education setting, and tell them about any changes for the young person.
You should read the Department for Education's statutory guidance on promoting the education of looked after children Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/promoting-the-education-of-looked-after-children (opens new window).
Designated teacher for children in care
All maintained schools and academies must have a designated teacher (DT) for children in care Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-teacher-for-looked-after-children (opens new window).
The DT helps to ensure that each young person in care does the best they can in their education. Ask the school or The HOPE who the DT for children in care is. You should talk to the DT about the young person's education, including any problems.
What children learn at school
Many education settings in England follow the National Curriculum. Academies and private schools don't have to teach the National Curriculum.
What the young person learns depends on their age. The Guide to the National Curriculum Go to https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum (opens new window) explains the subjects and tests for each age group.
Pupil Premium funding
Pupil Premium is extra funding from the government in England for some children and young people. Children in care who go to state schools are eligible for Pupil Premium.
Talk to the designated teacher about how the Pupil Premium will be spent. It should be spent on things that have been identified as important in the child's Personal Education Plan meeting. Also talk to the setting about what difference the funding has made to the child once it has been spent.
Find out more about education funding for children in care.
Children with special educational needs and disabilities
You should talk to the child's education setting about all aspects of the child's education, including any special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In many cases, the school will already know about the child's needs. If you think there's something the school doesn't know about, talk to the designated teacher for children in care or the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-ordinator (SENDCo).
The young person may:
- get extra support in class
- get a specific plan setting out what the child needs to learn and how their needs will be met, such as an Individual Education Plan
- get Top Up funding
- be assessed for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
You can also speak to the member of staff at The HOPE who is the lead contact for the child, or The HOPE's SENDCo, Rebecca Harrison. Contact The HOPE. We work closely with Bristol's SEND team to meet the educational needs of our young people in care.
Top Up funding for children with SEND
Top Up funding meets a child in care's additional needs. The school must show that the level of special educational provision needed for the child is more than and different from resources and support generally available in mainstream education settings. The school will be able to show this using a detailed costed provision map which will go to Bristol City Council's SEND team for approval.
Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans
An EHC plan is for young people who have significant educational needs. The plan coordinates their educational, health and social needs and sets out any extra support they may need. Find out more on Bristol's SEND Local Offer.
Post 16
Choices for post 16 students
After Year 11, students in England must:
- stay in full time education
- start an apprenticeship or traineeship
- spend 20 hours or more a week working or volunteering, while in part time education or training
There are different arrangements Go to https://www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school (opens new window) for students in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Schools and education settings should tell young people about their post 16 options. This includes:
- helping them choose the right course and further education setting
- finding an apprenticeship or traineeship
- suggesting work or volunteering opportunities
The HOPE can also help young people decide which option is best for them. Young people over the age of 16 can get support with their education from The HOPE if they're still involved with social care, or up to the age of 25 if they have an EHC plan.
Who to contact
- angela.ryan@bristol.gov.uk supports post 16 young people who have an EHC plan
- penny.russell@bristol.gov.uk supports post 16 young people who don't have an EHC plan
There are lots of options to choose from, whether the young person is staying in education or going on to training.
Who to contact if a young person has problems on their course or at college
Encourage the young person to speak to their course tutor, or you or their carer can do this if they don't want to. The young person or you can also speak to:
- any other support workers at their college
- learner support services (sometimes called student wellbeing)
- The HOPE
What happens if the young person wants to leave or change their course
If it's within the first month of the course, the young person may be able to change to another course. The young person, you or their carer should speak to their tutor about Swap don't drop'. If not, speak to the tutor before doing anything so the young person understands their options.
What to do if the young person is taken off their course
The young person or you can contact The HOPE to talk about what to do next. Try to do this as soon as possible. All colleges have an appeals procedure which you can find on their website. Search for disciplinary procedure'.
16 to 19 Bursary Fund
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is up to £1,200 per year. It helps students who are in care or are care leavers to stay in education.
The funding is available to young people aged 16, 17 or 18 at the start of their course. The student must meet their education provider's attendance requirements to get it.
The young person should apply for the bursary through their school or college. The young person's social worker or The HOPE must give evidence that the student is in the care of the local authority.
Find out more about education funding for children in care.
Apprenticeship funding
Care leavers doing an apprenticeship can get a one off payment of £1,000. The training provider pays this to the apprentice. Contact The HOPE if you have questions about this.
Higher education choices
Talk to The HOPE or the young person's school, college or training provider for support and guidance on finding a higher education course.
Tell the young person about our higher education information.
Free meals for post 16 students
Some post 16 young people in care may be entitled to free meals Go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-meals-in-further-education-funded-institutions-guide-for-the-2020-to-2021-academic-year (opens new window).
Home to school travel
Bristol City Council's Home to School Travel team support young people to be independent in their home to school travel. Find out about home to school support, including travel training tips for parents and carers.
pdf Bristol City Council's Home to School Travel policy (406 KB) has a section about children in care.
Bristol City Council also has a pdf School Travel Policy statement (109 KB) for students who have SEND and are in post 16 education.
Safeguarding
Education settings have a statutory duty to safeguard children and young people. Schools have a designated safeguarding lead and you should know who that person is and how to contact them.
Trips with The HOPE for children and young people
The HOPE organises trips and activities to encourage our young people to think about going to university. We must have consent for any of our young people to come on any trips we organise. This is separate from any consents the young person's school may need.
The person with parental responsibility must complete the document consent form (44 KB) . This is often the social worker or team manager.
You must send the signed consent form to The HOPE.
How The HOPE can support you
If you want to discuss anything to do with the education of a child in care, call us on 0117 903 6282 between 9am and 4.30pm in term time. Ask to speak to the person who deals with the relevant year group.
We also offer training for Bristol social care staff on supporting the education of children in care.
Other sources of information and support
Bristol City Council has local and national guidance and policy documents about the education of children in care.
Page 2 of 4
- Schools, learning and early years
- School admissions
- School closures
- Find a school
- School term and holiday dates
- Early years and childcare
- Special educational needs and disability
- Education outside mainstream schools
- Free school meals and school travel support
- Adult courses and learning
- Information for young people in Bristol
- Children in care or previously looked after children
- Governing schools and academies
- What the council spends on schools
- Complain about a school