Mr Plumb is our Looked After Children (LAC) and Children In Care (CiC) lead.

At Southmead Primary School we believe that all Looked After Children, and those previously in care, should have equitable access to excellent educational provision and achieve at a similar level to all Devon children. As a community we aim to be champions for Looked After Children and take a proactive approach to support their success, recognising that we have a vital role to play in promoting their educational achievement and social and emotional development. To do this we commit to:

➢Supporting them to raise their aspirations;

➢ Giving them a sense of the control they have over their own lives;

➢ Fostering positive attitudes and behaviours;

➢ Providing continuity and ‘normality’ for those who may have been subject to emotional distress, abuse and disruption.

Most Looked After Children will be living in foster homes but a smaller number may be in a children’s home, living with a relative or even be placed back at home with their parent(s) sharing parental responsibility with the Local Authority. Under the Children Act 1989, a child is in the Care of the Local Authority if he or she is provided with accommodation for more than 24 hours by the Authority. This includes the following: (a) Children who are accommodated by the Local Authority under a voluntary agreement with their parents; (b) Children who are the subject of a Care Order or Interim Care Order; (c) Children who are the subject of Emergency Orders for the protection of the child.