Explain
Looked-after children and the virtual school
A looked-after child is a child in the care of a council, or provided with accommodation by it. Each council must appoint someone, usually called the virtual school head, to promote the educational achievement of the children it looks after. A looked-after child with special educational needs has the same rights to an EHC needs assessment and plan as any other child. The Code of Practice says their EHC plan's annual review should, where possible and appropriate, coincide with a review of their care plan, in particular the personal education plan.
- Type of rule
- Law (Act or Regulations)
- Rule id
looked_after_children- Rules version
- england-2026.10
- Law as at
- 30 September 2026
Sources
- Children Act 1989, s 22Law (Act or Regulations)
- Children Act 1989, s 22(3B)Law (Act or Regulations)
- SEND Code of Practice 2015, looked after children, para 9.169Code of Practice: should (follow unless there is a good reason not to)
- SEND Code of Practice 2015, para 10.11Official guidance
Related
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