Children known to social care and school information sharing – Herefordshire
Case reference FOI2026/02405
Received 6 October 2026
Published 29 October 2026
Request
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request the following information from Herefordshire. This request covers both children's social care and the Virtual School.
1. Children who have left care through permanence orders The number of children who ceased to be looked after by your authority between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2026 due to
(a) an adoption order,
(b) a special guardianship order, or
(c) a child arrangements order, who are currently of compulsory school age.
2. Sharing information with schools Please describe how your authority informs schools that a pupil
(a) is currently, or
(b) has previously been, subject to a Child in Need plan, a child protection plan, or looked after.
In particular, please state whether this information continues to be shared after a plan ends or when a child moves school, and whether your authority operates a dashboard or portal giving schools this visibility. A copy of any relevant information-sharing protocol would be welcome.
3. Virtual School staffing The number of full-time-equivalent Virtual School staff working with
(a) previously looked-after children, and
(b) children with a social worker, as at 1 September 2026.
4. Pupil Premium Plus for previously looked-after children Does your Virtual School take any steps to inform adoptive parents, special guardians or schools that previously looked-after children are eligible for Pupil Premium Plus? If so, please briefly describe these steps.
CLARIFICATION To clarify, regarding Q1, the phrase refers to children who are of compulsory school age as of today, rather than the age they were when they ceased being looked after. I hope that helps. Please let me know if you need any further information to proceed with the request.
Response
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I am writing to request the following information from Herefordshire. This request covers both children's social care and the Virtual School.
1. Children who have left care through permanence orders
The number of children who ceased to be looked after by your authority between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2026 due to (a) an adoption order, (b) a special guardianship order, or (c) a child arrangements order, who are currently of compulsory school age.
Answer:
|
CLA End Reason |
Count |
|
Adoption |
164 |
|
CAO |
41 |
|
SGO |
82 |
|
Grand Total |
287 |
2. Sharing information with schools
Please describe how your authority informs schools that a pupil (a) is currently, or (b) has previously been, subject to a Child in Need plan, a child protection plan, or looked after. In particular, please state whether this information continues to be shared after a plan ends or when a child moves school, and whether your authority operates a dashboard or portal giving schools this visibility. A copy of any relevant information-sharing protocol would be welcome.
Answer: The Virtual School informs a school if a child becomes looked after, typically via email, and by adding the child in question to the Welfare Call ePEP platform which can be accessed by the school’s designated teacher (DT). If this is the first Herefordshire looked after child at the school the designated teacher would receive a log in for the Welfare Call platform and training on how to use it. When the child ceases to be looked after or leaves the school, the DT is informed and either the Welfare Call file is archived, or the access switches to the new school’s DT. If a child who is already in care applies to a school (whether placed by Herefordshire or another Local Authority) this information is listed on the application form, including details of the social worker.
The Virtual School is not involved in informing schools if a child is on a CIN or Child Protection plan.
3. Virtual School staffing
The number of full-time-equivalent Virtual School staff working with (a) previously looked-after children, and (b) children with a social worker, as at 1 September 2026.
Answer:
a) 0.6 FTE
b) 1 FTE
4. Pupil Premium Plus for previously looked-after children
Does your Virtual School take any steps to inform adoptive parents, special guardians or schools that previously looked-after children are eligible for Pupil Premium Plus? If so, please briefly describe these steps.
Answer: Information about support for school and for post-looked after families is available on the Herefordshire council website and via our post-looked after adviser. DTs are informed of pupil premium plus for post-looked after children via training which all DTs must attend every 2 years. Parents and carers or post looked after children can refer in themselves or be referred in by schools with parental consent.
Please see link below for further information.
Virtual School information for professionals - Herefordshire Council
CLARIFICATION
To clarify, regarding Q1, the phrase refers to children who are of compulsory school age as of today, rather than the age they were when they ceased being looked after.
I hope that helps. Please let me know if you need any further information to proceed with the request.
Documents
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