Kinship Care
- When a child is looked after by family or close friends because their parents can't care for them.
Kinship Carer
- A person who looks after a child in kinship care. This could be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or family friend.
Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
- A legal order that gives a kinship carer the right to make decisions for the child they care for.
Child Arrangements Order (CAO)
- A court order that says who a child should live with and who they can see.
Looked-After Child
- A child who is cared for by the local council, often in foster care.
Previously Looked-After Child (PLAC)
- A child who used to be in care but now lives with a family under an SGO or CAO.
Virtual School
- A team that helps children in care do well in school. They give advice to carers and teachers.
Designated Teacher (DT)
- A teacher in every school who helps children in care or previously in care.
Pupil Premium Plus (PP+)
- Extra money given to schools to help children who were in care do better in school.
Family Time (Contact)
- Time when a child sees their birth parents or other family members. It can be supervised or informal.
Supervising Social Worker
- A social worker who supports kinship foster carers and helps with things like training and contact.
Family Group Conference (FGC)
- A meeting where family members talk together and make plans for a child’s care.
SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
- Extra help for children who find learning or daily life more difficult.
Local Offer
- Information about services and support available for children and families in your area.
