Schools in Liverpool are set to benefit from a cash boost for educating children that have been in care.
The Government has recently extended the £1,900 of Pupil Premium funding per child to those young people who have been adopted, or who are now looked after under a Special Guardianship or Residence Orders. The money will be used by schools to address underlying inequalities among pupils and raise attainment.
But parents and guardians must let their child’s school know by January 16, 2014, and provide supporting evidence such as an adoption order – otherwise the school will not
get the money.
The city council has already written to around 150 parents and guardians of those eligible in Liverpool to urge them to get in touch with their child’s school. Schools have also been asked to raise awareness of the issue.
Councillor Jane Corbett, Cabinet member for children’s services and education, said: “This is valuable extra money for schools and I would urge parents and guardians to make sure their child’s school does not miss out.”
Schools are eligible if they educate a child who:
• Was adopted from care on or after 30th December 2005 (under the Adoption and Children Act 2002)
• Left care under a Special Guardianship Order on or after 30th December 2005 (under the Children Act 1989)
• Left care under a Residential Order on or after 14th October 1991 (under the Children Act 1989)
Pupil Premium money is already allocated to schools to work with young people who have been registered for free school meals at any point in the last six years; children who have been looked after continuously for more than six months, and children of service personnel.