Each school is required to have a nominated Designated Teacher.  This is a statutory requirement whether or not a school has a Looked After Child currently on their roll.  This is to ensure that whenever one of the pupils becomes looked after or a new child in care is admitted to the school there is a teacher who is already trained to carry out this important role.

Details of the role of the Designated Teacher are set out in Promoting the Education of Looked After Children (February 2018) and the Role and Responsibilities of the Designated Teacher  for looked after children (2018).  The member of staff who is appointed as the Designated Teacher must be:

•    A qualified teacher
•    A headteacher or,
•    Acting headteacher

The Governing Body is required to:

•    Ensure that the designated teacher undertakes appropriate training (section 20(2) of the 2008 Act).
•    As a minimum governors must consider an Annual Report from the Designated Teacher.
•  The governing body and school leadership team should consider the report and act on any issues it raises so as to support the Designated Teacher and maximise the impact of the role.

The Designated Teacher should:

•    Promote a culture of high expectations and aspirations for how looked after children learn 
•    Make sure the young person has a voice in setting learning targets 
•    Be a source of advice for staff about differentiated teaching strategies appropriate for individual children and in making full use of Assessment  for Learning
•    Make sure that looked after children are prioritised in one-to-one tuition arrangements and that carers understand the importance of supporting learning at home
•    Have lead responsibility for the development and implementation of the child’s Personal Education Plan (PEP) within the school.

(Guidance taken from DCSF  Role and Responsibilities of the Designated Teacher, February 2018)