The Virtual School champions our responsibilities regarding the education of children in care. As corporate parents, we have high aspirations, wanting our children to have the best possible education provision and learning opportunities.
The Virtual School provides information and guidance on children in care, care leavers, previously looked after children and children with a social worker.
The Virtual School has responsibility for monitoring, supporting and providing or resourcing interventions so the children in our care achieve their best possible educational outcomes by:
- leading training for schools and services such as designated teacher network meetings, attachment and relationship aware schools, as well as trauma informed relational planning to support inclusion of children in care and children with a social worker
- co-ordinating and quality assuring termly personal education plans (PEPs)
- making sure pupil premium plus is used in line with guidance
- tracking the academic progress, attendance, and suspensions of children in care
- using tracking data to highlight children in care who are not on target to achieve their predicted outcomes and provide them with support
- making sure special educational needs or disability (SEND) needs are identified for children in care and supported effectively
- supporting transitions
- encouraging our young people to have high aspirations about their futures and removing barriers to education with a focus on not in education, employment or training (NEET) young people
Children with a social worker
Since 2021, the Virtual School has had strategic responsibilities for all children with a social worker and previously looked after children (PLAC). This has been extended to include children in kinship care. The Virtual School has a number of initiatives working closely with social care and schools to support school stability.
Contact
Email virtualschool@derbyshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01629 538028
County Hall
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 3AG
Rachel Moore, virtual headteacher, telephone: 01629 538028.
Headteacher's report
For the latest headteacher's report, email virtualschool@derbyshire.gov.uk