Looked After Children

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Supporting Looked After Children (LAC) at Kingsway Primary School

Safeguarding, Stability and Belonging at the Heart of Our Practice

At Kingsway Primary School, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and the welfare of the child is paramount. We are fully committed to meeting our statutory duties to support, safeguard and promote the educational achievement and wellbeing of Looked After Children (LAC).

Our approach is relational, trauma‑informed and grounded in a strong safeguarding culture where children feel safe, valued, listened to and protected.

 

What does the term “Looked After Child” mean?

A Looked After Child (LAC) is a child who is:

  • in the care of a local authority, or
  • accommodated by a local authority under the Children Act

 

This may include children living with foster carers, in residential settings, or under interim care arrangements.

Children who are looked after are recognised nationally as a statutorily vulnerable group and may require additional emotional, safeguarding and educational support.

 

A safeguarding‑led approach

At Kingsway, safeguarding is not a checklist – it is a culture.

We recognise that children who are looked after may have experienced:

  • trauma or loss
  • disrupted attachments
  • instability or uncertainty
  • additional emotional or mental‑health needs

 

Our safeguarding approach ensures that:

  • children’s needs are noticed early
  • concerns are acted on promptly
  • trusted adults are always available
  • children’s voices are heard and respected

 

Children sit at the heart of all safeguarding decisions.

 

Statutory guidance we follow

Kingsway Primary School fulfils its responsibilities in line with statutory safeguarding and education guidance, including:

  • Promoting the Education of Looked‑After and Previously Looked‑After Children (DfE)
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children
  • relevant Trafford safeguarding guidance and advice

 

These frameworks guide how we work with children, families, carers, social care and partner agencies.

 

Leadership and safeguarding oversight

Safeguarding for Looked After Children is overseen by senior leaders:

  • The Headteacher, as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), holds overall responsibility
  • A Designated Teacher for Looked After Children ensures educational progress, wellbeing and inclusion remain central
  • A strong team of DSL‑trained staff ensures safeguarding expertise is always accessible

 

This ensures Looked After Children are:

  • known well by staff
  • monitored carefully
  • supported consistently

 

Personal Education Plans (PEPs)

Where a child is looked after, Kingsway works closely with Trafford Virtual School to support and implement the child’s Personal Education Plan (PEP).

Through PEPs we:

  • contribute to planning and review meetings within statutory timescales
  • set clear, ambitious targets for learning, attendance and wellbeing
  • ensure adult practice reflects PEP priorities
  • use pupil‑premium‑plus funding responsibly to support the child’s needs

 

PEPs directly inform classroom and pastoral practice.

 

Daily wellbeing, stability and care

In line with our safeguarding culture model, Kingsway ensures that Looked After Children:

  • have trusted adults and consistent relationships
  • experience predictable routines and calm environments
  • are supported emotionally as well as academically
  • are monitored carefully for attendance, engagement and wellbeing

 

Any safeguarding concerns are:

  • recorded promptly and professionally
  • shared with social care and partner agencies where appropriate
  • followed through until resolved

 

Inclusive education and high expectations

Looked After Children are entitled to:

  • the full curriculum
  • high expectations for learning and behaviour
  • inclusive classroom practice
  • adaptive teaching and reasonable adjustments

 

At Kingsway, this is delivered through:

  • Inclusive Quality First Teaching (iQFT)
  • enabling environments that reduce barriers
  • keep‑up learning support within lessons
  • pastoral and wellbeing provision

 

Support is individualised but never isolating.

 

Working in partnership

Kingsway works collaboratively with:

  • Trafford Virtual School
  • social workers and carers
  • Trafford Children’s Services
  • pastoral and early‑help professionals

 

Information is shared appropriately, sensitively and in the best interests of the child, ensuring coordinated support.

 

Confidentiality, dignity and voice

We are committed to:

  • protecting children’s privacy
  • sharing information on a need‑to‑know basis
  • preventing stigma or labelling
  • listening to children’s views and experiences

 

Children are encouraged to speak up and are confident that adults will act.

 

Continuous reflection and improvement

As a school, we:

  • reflect regularly on safeguarding practice
  • learn from experience and partnership working
  • train staff to understand trauma, attachment and vulnerability
  • ensure policies and procedures are meaningful in practice

 

This reflects our belief that people, not policies, keep children safe.

 

Our commitment

Kingsway Primary School is committed to:

  • meeting all statutory duties for Looked After Children
  • embedding safeguarding through relationships
  • promoting stability, belonging and wellbeing
  • raising educational achievement and life chances
  • working openly and professionally with Trafford partners

We believe that feeling safe is the foundation for all learning and growth.

If you would like to discuss how we support Looked After Children, or have a safeguarding concern, please contact the school. We are always here to listen and support.