Children Looked After by Herefordshire Council  

At Barrs Court School, we understand that some of our pupils are “looked after” by the local authority. This means they are in foster care, residential care, or another type of formal arrangement.  

Herefordshire Council has legal duties as a “corporate parent”. This means they must make sure every child in their care is safe, supported, and able to thrive, just as any good parent would.  

What does “Looked After” mean?  

A child is “looked after” when Herefordshire Council is legally responsible for providing their care and protection. This can happen in different ways:  

• Voluntary care (under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989) where parents/carers agree for the council to provide accommodation temporarily.  

• Court orders that give the council parental responsibility while the child is in care.  

Parents and carers usually keep parental responsibility, but the council shares it. The overall goal is to keep children safe, provide stability, and work towards the best possible long-term outcomes.  

What support is provided?  

Herefordshire Council makes sure that looked after children:  

• Have safe and stable homes, where possible, children are placed with relatives, friends, or foster carers who know them. Residential care may be used if that’s best for the child.  

• Stay healthy, children in care receive regular health checks and access to medical, emotional wellbeing, and specialist services.  

• Achieve in school, looked after children are supported to learn, catch up if they’ve missed education, and access extra help when needed.  

• Have a voice, children are encouraged to share their views in review meetings and to understand their rights.  

• Prepare for adulthood, young people leaving care get extra support with housing, education, training, employment, and life skills.  

Looked After Children with SEN in Residential Settings  

Some children with special educational needs (SEN) may live in specialist residential placements because their needs cannot be met safely at home or through foster care. These placements can provide 24-hour care, specialist therapies, and education support in one setting.  

For these children, support includes:  

• Specialist care staff trained in meeting complex SEN, medical, or behavioural needs.  

• Education support, either at school or within the residential setting, depending on what is most appropriate.  

• Therapies such as speech and language, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or emotional wellbeing services.  

• Family involvement, parents and carers are supported to stay involved in their child’s life, through visits, regular communication, and involvement in planning meetings.  

• Regular reviews, social workers, SEN teams, health professionals, and schools meet with families at least every 6 months to review progress and make sure the placement continues to meet the child’s needs.  

• Respite for families, residential care can give families a break while still ensuring that they are part of their child’s long  

Corporate Parenting in Herefordshire  

All parts of Herefordshire Council share responsibility as “corporate parents.” In practice, this means:  

• A Corporate Parenting Panel meets regularly to check how well children in care are supported.  

• The Corporate Parenting Strategy (2025–27) sets priorities such as stable homes, good health, achievement in education, being listened to, and preparing for adulthood  

What this means for SEN pupils and families at Barrs Court  

• We work closely with your child’s social worker, foster carer, residential staff, and the Virtual School to make sure their SEN needs are fully supported alongside their care needs.  

• Extra support is provided in school, such as:  

• specialist SEN interventions  

• catch-up programmes  

• mentoring and pastoral care  

• emotional and social support to help with transitions or placement changes  

• Parents and carers are always included in planning and review meetings about education, care, and transitions.  

• Our aim is to create a stable, caring school/college environment where looked after children feel safe, valued, and able to succeed  

How families can find out more or access support  

• Speak to the school’s Designated Teacher for Looked After Children or our SENCO.  

• Contact Herefordshire Children’s Social Care / Looked After Children service.  

• Visit the Herefordshire Council website for information on Corporate Parenting and Children Looked After.  

• Ask about independent advocacy services, which can help ensure that children and young people understand their rights and have their voices heard.