Information and strategies supporting the holistic growth and well-being of children.
Parents and carers, especially foster carers, kinship carers, and the social workers supporting looked after children and care leavers, often carry a heavy mix of daily pressures and big hopes for the future. When trauma, mental health challenges, unstable housing, and stigma are in the...
If you are a parent navigating social services involvement or a dedicated professional in the residential childcare sector, you’ve likely heard the term "respite care". But what does it actually mean for the child and the adults supporting them? At Looked After Child, we believe that respite isn't...
Kinship care is when a child lives full-time with a relative or friend who is not their parent because their birth parents are unable to care for them. This arrangement—often called ‘family and friends care’—prioritizes the child’s need for stability, cultural identity, and emotional security...
A Junior ISA (JISA) for children in care is a long-term, tax-free savings account opened by the UK government for children who have been in continuous care for at least one year. These accounts ensure that young people leaving the care system have a financial "nest egg" to help them transition...
As someone who has walked this path, I know that being "in care" can sometimes feel like a label that limits your future. But I’m here to tell you—and show you—that your history is not your destiny. Being in care does not stop you from achieving greatness; in fact, the resilience you develop can...
Growing up in care comes with a unique set of challenges, but it also gives you a chance to build incredible inner strength. Building resilience in care means developing the ability to bounce back from difficult situations, manage stress, and keep moving forward toward your goals. While it might...
"Staying Put" is an arrangement that allows a young person to continue living with their former foster carers after they turn 18. Instead of being required to move out into independent living on their 18th birthday, this arrangement enables them to remain in a stable, familiar environment until...
Reunification is the process where a child in care returns to live with their birth family. It is the most common way for children to leave the care system in England, with approximately 27% to 29% of children exiting care returning to their birth parents or relatives. As someone who has navigated...
In my years working within the care system and sharing life stories, I’ve seen how pivotal one person can be in changing a child's trajectory. When a child has additional needs, that person is often the Special Educational Needs Coordinator, or SENCO. Understanding this role is vital whether you...
If you are reading this, you are likely worried about a child. Maybe you are a parent watching your son retreat into himself, a foster carer dealing with trauma responses you can't quite soothe, or a social worker trying to secure funding for a placement. I know that feeling in the pit of your...
in the residential care sector, the Quality Standards (as set out in the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015) represent the regulatory framework against which Ofsted inspects and judges provision. However, for high-performing providers, these standards should not be viewed merely as a...
Parents in the UK are in a powerful position to shape how their children feel about learning for the rest of their lives. Long before GCSEs, SATs or Ofsted reports, curiosity starts (and can be quietly snuffed out) at home. This guide is about how you can protect that spark and help your child...
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