The National Teaching and Advisory Service for Looked After Children and Children in Need is a national education organisation committed to the full inclusion of looked after children within mainstream schools. NT&AS has established a flexible, high quality education casework service for all children placed with Horizon Care.

NT&AS works in partnership with local authorities, as well as the independent sector to ensure that the education needs of children are identified and met. The education team consists of qualified teachers with significant experience in mainstream education, special educational needs and working alongside colleagues from social services departments and other childcare organisations. In addition, NT&AS employ education support workers who come from a background of work with children and young people in a range of education and care settings.

NT&AS work begins at the point of referral when research into a child’s educational and social history is undertaken. From the point of admission baseline tests are administered and children are assessed across a range of curriculum areas through a variety of educational activities. The resulting findings form the basis of an education report.

The education report informs the development of a coherent personal education plan for the child. This process involves the child, his/her social worker, the key worker/carer & NT&AS teacher. The focus of the first phase of planning is the identification, preparation and support of a full-time education placement.

The nature of support required by each child is determined and agreed prior to admission to school, reviewed at regular intervals and amended as appropriate. Although it is expected that the need for intensive, direct support will diminish over time, NT&AS retain the capacity to increase the intensity of the package if necessary. The commitment of NT&AS and Horizon Care is to establish successful and appropriate education placements for all children.

Once established in school, each child will continue to be supported by NT&AS. Such support includes the maintenance of effective home/school links, the monitoring of progress and study support. NT&AS teachers work alongside mainstream colleagues in schools to ensure that each child realises his/her academic potential and benefits fully from inclusion in the range of personal, social and educational opportunities afforded by a successful school placement.