Email: customer.care@merthyr.gov.uk    Tel: 01685 725000
Address: Merthyr Tydfil CBC, Civic Centre, Castle Street, Merthyr Tydfil, United Kingdom CF47 8AN

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Glossary of terms used in conjunction with children who are ‘Looked After’

Additional Literacy Support

Additional support for pupils in reading and writing

Attainment Target

The knowledge, skills and understanding which pupils of different abilities and ages are expected to have by the end of each National Curriculum Key Stage.

ASDAN

An awarding body for basic/key skills and low-level vocational skills, delivered through extra-curricular work, outside of the traditional national curriculum subjects.

Baseline Assessment

Refers to the assessment of a child on his/her entry to the school.  A pupil's progress can then be monitored throughout his/her school career.

Emotional Literacy

The teaching of relevant competencies to develop emotional recognition, identification, understanding and expression in children.

Exclusion

Head teacher may exclude pupils from school for serious breaches of discipline.  Exclusions may be for a fixed period or permanent

Key Stages

These are the five stages of pupils' progress in acquiring knowledge and skills as set out in the National Curriculum.  Pupils are tested at the end of each stage.  Key Stage 1 covers pupils between the ages of 5 and 7, Key Stage 2 ages 7 to 11, Key Stage 3 ages 11 to 14,  Key Stage 4, 14 to 16, KS5  16+

Family Centre

The local authority provides family centers to provide advice, counseling, recreational activities.

IEP

Individual Education Plan (Special Educational Needs term)

PEP

Personal Education Plan – unique to all ‘looked after’ children

IBP

Individual Behaviour Plan

SEN

Special Educational Needs

SEN Code of Practice

This code has been implemented a graduated a approach to special needs, introducing a series of stages with different provisions being activated at each stage

LEA

Local Education Authority

LSA

Learning Support Assistants

PRU

Pupil Referral Unit - Service which advises on and educates pupils with behavioural problems and pupils who have been excluded from school

Inter Agency Cooperation

A mutual obligation exists for local authorities to assist one another unless this is in conflict with their own statutory duties

SEN School Aware

At this stage the school is building a picture of the needs of the child

SEN School Action

Is defined by the school implementing an Individual Education Plan or IEP or putting additional support paid for by the school. This includes additional reading, writing or numeracy lessons in the school or allowing the child to access an support assistant paid for by the school

SEN School Action Plus

Is defined when there is regular involvement of an outside professional. Includes the Educational Psychology Service, a Behaviour Support Teacher, a Learning Support Teacher or medically allied Professionals, for example speech and language therapist

Statutory Assessment

If a child requires further resources that cannot be catered for at School Action Plus a statutory Assessment may be requested by Parent, Social Services/Children’s and any Health Professionals. The Statutory assessment is a full assessment of a pupil’s special educational needs. Advice is requested from all professionals involved and from parents

Statement

A legal document produced following an assessment of a pupil's special educational needs.  The statement outlines the child's needs and determines the special provision which has to be made

Designated teacher

Person within the child’s school who liaises with the child and multidisciplinary team.

Accommodated

Child Looked After by the Local Authority by agreement with the parent (technically - "provided with accommodation")

Care Order

An order of the court placing a child in the care of an Authority.  Local Authority acquires parental responsibility which is retained by the parent as well.

Contact Order

A contact order directs a caregiver to allow a child contact with another person, by phone or in person

Interim Care Order

If a court has ‘reasonable grounds’ for believing Care/Supervision criteria are met, an interim Order may be made. First Interim may be up to 8 weeks. Second and subsequent Interim may be up to 4 weeks or the balance of the original eight if that is longer.

Supervision Order

Requires supervisor to advise, assist and befriend. Lasts 12 months, can be varied by court to a Care Order, discharged, or renewed to maximum of 3 years. It imposes obligations on ‘responsible person’ (i.e. person with parental responsibility or with whom child is living) to take reasonable steps to ensure compliance of child with Supervision Order.

Residence Order

An order of the court settling the arrangements as to the person with whom a child is to live

LACES

Looked after children’s education support – Web Site

LAC - Looked After Children

Term applied to any child looked after by the Local Authority whether by agreement with parents or through an Order.

Statutory Review

The Children’s Act 1989 sets out maximum intervals that may separate reviews. The first review should take place no later than 4 weeks after the date on which the child begins to be looked after or is provided with accommodation. The second review should take place not more than three month’s after the date of the first review. Thereafter, subsequent reviews should take place at intervals of not more than 6 month’s after the date of the previous review.

Out of county

Pupils being taught in a school maintained by one Authority whilst living in another Authority's area.

Secure Accommodation

A looked after child can be placed and kept in secure accommodation only if s/he, has a history of absconding, and is likely to abscond from anywhere else, and is likely, when absconding, to suffer significant harm, or kept elsewhere, is likely to injure self or others

Pathway Plan

The pathway plan replaces the child’s care plan. The pathway plan is regularly reviewed up until the child is aged 21