Is extra tuition for looked after children affordable?

Can looked after children, in foster care or other children in care, access extra tuition?

Some of our most rewarding work is with looked after children, whether with foster carers or other local authority arrangements for children in care.

Many looked after children aren’t doing as well as their peer groups because of disrupted home lives. At our Kip McGrath Education Centre Gateshead East, we help give them some stability and improve their life chances by helping them achieve their full potential.

Educational achievement is one of the gateways out of social deprivation. English and Maths tuition with us can help looked after children achieve academic success and go on to successful independent adult lives.

Can we use the Personal Education Allowance for extra tuition?

Looked after children have an entitlement to a Personal Education Allowance (PEAs). To be able to apply for their PEA, looked after children should have their specific development needs identified in the statutory Personal Education Plan (PEP). The looked after child is entitled to a say in their own PEP.

In order to be able to use their PEA to receive English and Maths tuition at Kip McGrath Gateshead East, the looked after child’s PEP needs to identify one or more of the following development needs:

  • On-going catch up support for those who have fallen behind with school work
  • Out of school hours learning activities/study support
  • The necessary level of support to help the child achieve well at each National Curriculum Key Stage, particularly in completing a range of appropriate qualifications

(Source: Promoting the Educational Achievement of Looked After Children: Statutory Guidelines for Local Authorities)

What sort of tuition can we use the PEA for?

Once the PEA has been approved (and it must be confirmed before any extra tuition can begin), Kip McGrath Gateshead East can offer extra support in English reading, spelling and comprehension and Maths. We can also help with preparation for SATS and GCSEs.

We would welcome the opportunity to talk to any foster carers, local authorities and schools about how we can help you ensure looked after children are given every opportunity to fulfil their potential. Please call us on 0191 338 9556 or email us at  gatesheadeast@kip-mcgrath.com