Kinship local offer

We want children and young people in kinship care to do well at school and reach their full potential.

There is support available to help with childcare, school, transport, special educational needs, and emotional wellbeing.

Childcare support

Working families with children aged 9 months to 4 years may be able to get funded childcare.

You can find out more about:

• funded childcare through the government's Best Start in Life programme
• help with childcare costs through the Family Information Service

Virtual School support

The Virtual School supports children and young people in kinship care.

This includes children living with:

• relatives
• family friends
• special guardians under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
• carers with a Child Arrangements Order (CAO)
• families in informal kinship arrangements

The Virtual School works with families, schools and professionals to help children:

• attend school regularly
• enjoy learning
• achieve their best
• get the support they need to succeed

Advice and support for families

The Virtual School can provide advice about:

• choosing a school
• starting a new school or moving between schools
• school attendance
• behaviour and avoiding exclusion
• understanding your child's progress
• learning needs
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

The team can also work with schools and other professionals to make sure your child's needs are understood and supported.

Supporting emotional wellbeing

Some children in kinship care have experienced difficult life events.

The Virtual School promotes a nurturing and trauma-informed approach that helps children feel safe, settled and ready to learn.

Support includes:

• training for schools on attachment, trauma and emotional wellbeing
• specialist programmes such as Building Underdeveloped Sensorimotor Systems (BUSS)
• advice for schools on creating supportive learning environments

Working together

The Virtual School works closely with:

• schools and designated teachers
• social workers
• family help services
• kinship carers
• families

By working together, we can help children get the right support at the right time.

Support tailored to your child

Every child and family is different.

The level of support will depend on your child's needs and circumstances.

Support is usually provided by phone or email, working closely with families and professionals.

Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium is extra funding paid directly to schools to help children succeed in education.

Get Pupil Premium

Your child may be eligible if they:

• were previously in local authority care and now live under a Special Guardianship Order
• were previously in local authority care and now live under a Child Arrangements Order
• were adopted from care
• are currently looked after by the local authority and living with approved kinship foster carers
• are eligible for free school meals
• have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last 6 years

Some children may not be eligible

Children in informal kinship care arrangements may not automatically qualify if they:

• have never been in local authority care
• are not eligible for free school meals

How schools can use Pupil Premium

Schools can decide how to use this funding to meet pupils' needs.

Support may include:

• mentoring and pastoral support
• access to a trusted adult
• counselling
• trauma-informed support
• one-to-one or small group learning
• homework and exam support
• help with school trips, uniforms or equipment
• support when changing schools or returning after absence

The Kinship Team will tell the Virtual School when a child enters a kinship care arrangement so that advice and support can be offered where needed.

Apply for a school place

You can apply for:

• a new school place
• a school transfer
• an in-year school move

Find out how to apply on our school admissions pages.

School transport

Your child may be eligible for free school transport.

Check eligibility for school transport and apply online.

Free school meals and clothing vouchers

You may be able to get free school meals and clothing vouchers for your child.

Find out if your child is eligible and apply for free school meals and school clothing vouchers.