You might find Who Cares Scotland and The Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum useful for information.

Every school has a ‘named teacher’ for LAC (Looked After Children…a generic term for both Looked After at Home and Looked After and Accommodated). In Primary Schools most often the headteacher although not always, in Secondary often a DHT or PT Guidance/PT Inclusion.

Answer to question in my view…Yes and Yes. Having this information can lead to a more sympathetic approach to more emotional aspects of these children’s lives e.g. Something simple like a child forgetting P.E kit, when that child’s home circumstances mean that they are Looked After (on a supervision order),may mean a more considered response.
I am sure that we all hope and expect that teachers always react in a sympathetic/empathetic way towards all children in their care, but for this most emotionally (and often educationally) vulnerable group it can make a huge difference when key adults respond in a sensitive way.
Researching key theory like ‘Attachment’can also give a huge insight into the difficulties that might have impacted on the emotional development of children,again especially this most vulnerable group.

Maureen G

Do you consider that I should be told?

Should it make a difference to how I treat that pupil, if I were to know?