Virtual school for looked after and previously looked after children

Our virtual school for children in care and previously in care is part of the Education Vulnerable Groups Achievement and Access Service (EVGAAS). The team is based at the Professional Development Centre in Norwich.

The role of the virtual school is to promote the education of all Norfolk's children and young people in care, wherever they may be placed. The team is the statutory lead (Children and Families Act 2014) and will support and challenge:

Schools
Us - the local authority
Other relevant partners

This ensures that children and young people in care have the best possible education and outcomes.

What does the virtual school team do?

Provide advice, guidance and support to schools, professional colleagues, foster carers and children
Administer the Pupil Premium Plus
Ensure that all children have an effective high quality Personal Education Plan (PEP). They also link the allocation of Pupil Premium monies to PEP targets effectively
Monitor attendance, and track progress data and attainment for all Norfolk children in care
Provide training for schools, foster carers and professional colleagues
Identify and pilot interventions and resources to improve learning
Provide out-of-school activities to support learning

A new extended role

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 set out new duties for local authorities, maintained schools and academies, effective from September 2018. It has extended the role of virtual school heads and designated teachers to certain children previously in care. This is because these children may continue to experience educational challenges after leaving care. The new remit extends to those children with:

Child arrangements orders
Special Guardianship Orders (SGO)
Adoption orders

The role of the virtual school head for children previously in care is to promote their educational achievement. This is through the provision of information and advice to their parents, educators and others.

However, virtual school heads are not expected to monitor the educational progress of individual children, or be held to account for their educational attainment. Any intervention in the education of a previously looked-after child, must be with the agreement of the person(s) who have parental responsibility for the child. They, like all parents, are responsible for overseeing their child's progress in education.

The English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) team, also now sit within the virtual school structure, under its inclusion strand.

Head of the virtual school

The head of the virtual school for children in care and previously in care, adoption, SGO, GRT and EAL is Keeley White.

How can I get in touch?

For general enquiries contact virtual.schools@norfolk.gov.uk