Looked-After & Edge-of-Care
One plan. One record. One person who knows the whole story.
📖 A story that has been told too many times
A looked-after child has told their story to social workers, foster carers, teachers, CAMHS, the virtual school head, the IRO, and a dozen other professionals — many of whom then left. The EHC plan is one place where the story stays. It travels with the child. It's the continuity when everything else changes. You don't have to retell it every time.
Three plans — one child
Care Plan
What social care is doing. Where the child lives. Contact arrangements. The long-term plan for permanence. Reviewed at Looked-After Reviews.
EHC Plan
What education, health and care provision the child needs. Sections A-I. Statutory clock. Outcomes measured. Annual review.
PEP (Personal Education Plan)
The education part. Current attainment. Progress data. Targets. How the pupil premium is being spent. Reviewed termly.
All three documents must be consistent. They should reference each other. When one is updated, the others should be checked. The platform links them so nobody has to do this manually.
Virtual School Head — your education champion
Every local authority has a Virtual School Head. Their job is to make sure looked-after children get the education they deserve. They track attendance, attainment, exclusions, and EHC plan delivery. They must be invited to every annual review. They can challenge a school that isn't doing enough.
Placement stability — when a move happens
Every time a looked-after child moves placement, the EHC plan must be reviewed within 28 days. The new school must be able to deliver the provision in the plan. If they can't, the LA must find one that can — not 'make do.' The platform tracks placement changes and auto-prompts the review.