Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the expertise within schools and wider education services to support adopted and kinship children who have experienced early adversity, trauma, abuse, neglect or loss; and what steps she is taking to strengthen that expertise.

The department’s report, ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’, sets out plans for an inclusive, high-standard education system in England.

Virtual School Heads (VSHs) promote the educational achievement of previously looked-after children, including those who left care through adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements orders. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act extends this role to eligible children in kinship care.

Schools must appoint a designated teacher for previously looked-after children, who attract £2,690 annually in Pupil Premium Plus. We are updating statutory guidance for VSHs and designated teachers, and schools can now record children in kinship care through the school census.

The department is considering responses received from ‘Adoption Support that Works for All’, which consulted on support at key life stages and integration of social care, health and education. The department is also piloting support for children entering secondary school and Families First Partnership multi-disciplinary teams will help families receive support from the right professionals at the right time.