Key actions for schools and education professionals

• Identify which children are currently on a Child in Need (CiN) or Child Protection plan (CP). Which children have been on a CiN or CP plan whilst being on roll with your setting? The government have identified this cohort within Local Authority guidance, so be prepared and ahead of the game in terms of potential changes within other statutory guidance – for example, Ofsted inspections.
• Ensure the relevant staff are aware of who these children are by working with the:
  • designated safeguarding leads
  • designated mental health leads
  • pastoral support team
  • SENCO
  • designated teacher
  • form tutors.
  As an educational setting, you will be able to have a really clear picture of the needs of your cohort, which in turn will enable you to plan support and interventions.
• Meet regularly to discuss this cohort to review their attainment, attendance, and wellbeing data.
• Use opportunities available to you to understand the unique needs of this cohort. Ensuring that your whole staff team have a clear understanding of the impact of trauma and adversity on brain development will enable them to support all children through adverse experiences. Developing and embedding trauma informed practice within the ethos, policies and practice of your educational setting will benefit all who are part of your community – pupils, staff and families.
• Children want us to have high aspirations for them, to believe in them and not to treat them differently. We must support them to achieve their potential and to ensure that educational settings and services do not become barriers to achieving this for them.
• Identify interventions that will support your cohort of children with a social worker. Please refer to the Education Endowment Foundation for more information.
• Refer to the Education Endowment Foundation Guidance Reports for more information and advice on all aspects of learning.

Although we are unable to attend CiN or CP meetings or work directly with children and families, we will:

• offer advice regarding your cohort of children with a social worker through a dedicated inbox vsas@westsussex.gov.uk. Our team will respond with advice and guidance either by email or a phone call
• offer guidance and signpost schools and education settings to additional services required and available within the local authority to support children with a social worker
• provide training opportunities to develop the understanding of providers around attachment, trauma and meeting the needs of this cohort as well as training on interventions known to make the biggest impact for children with a social worker
• work with our local authority colleagues who work directly with this cohort to support them to observe and respond to the child’s presentation with an appropriate curiosity around their lived experiences and how this may be impacting on them.