The Virtual School consists of a headteacher, deputy head teacher, and pupil inclusion officers. It does not replace the school which the learner attends but is an additional resource where people work cooperatively and collaboratively to ensure that that the learner is able to reach their full potential.
The team work closely with the school, a Designated Teacher in school, social workers, and carers to support the learner in their education and to make sure they are getting any help needed. The Virtual School help make sure the learner will have access to other activities that interest them or that may help with any career plans. Redcar and Cleveland Virtual School recognises its role as a corporate parent of children in our care within the Local Authority. As such the school will continually strive to champion children in our care education through:
• Continually monitoring and assessing their educational needs.
• Promoting their best interests within a school setting regarding academic attainment and pastoral wellbeing.
• Ensuring their voices and opinions are heard.
• Championing the provision of educational enrichment opportunities for them.
• Supplying advice and support to schools and staff, both inside and outside the Local Authority, who support Redcar and Cleveland children in our care.
Virtual School’s aim is based on the statutory requirements set out in the Department for Education guidance: promoting the education of looked -after and previously looked-after children; statutory guidance for local authorities; February 2018. Legal definition of ‘looked-after’ children.
Within Redcar and Cleveland, we talk about children in our care (CIOC) to recognise our role as corporate parent. The phrase children in our care relates to children who are known legally as looked-after (LAC) or Children Looked After (CLA)
There are two main types of looked after children:
1. The child’s parents may agree that the child goes into care or the child requests to go into care. This is often referred to a ‘Section 20’.
2. The child may be legally removed from their parents without the parents’ consent. This is when the court has concluded that a child could be harmed if they stay at home. This is referred to as a ‘Care Order or Section 31’. The Local Authority has a statutory duty to look after the child – this includes ensuring they receive the best education possible.
The Local Authority assumes the role of ‘corporate parent.’ This responsibility is held by every adult employed by the Local Authority including those who work in schools.
Children previously in our care (previously ‘looked-after’) In line with promoting the education of looked-after children and previously looked-after children, February 2018, previously looked-after children are classed as those who: are no longer looked after by a local authority in England and Wales (as defined by the Children Act 1989 or Part 6 of the Social Services and Well-being act).
An ‘eligible’ child is a child who is looked after, aged 16 or 17 and has been looked after by a local authority for a period of 13 weeks or periods amounting in total to 13 weeks, which began after they reached 14 and ended after they reached 16. 7 being (Wales) Act 2014) because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangement order. or were adopted from ‘state care’ outside England and Wales. ‘State care’ is care provided by a public authority, a religious organisation, or any other organisation whose sole or main purpose is to benefit society. The duty applies to children who are in early years provision (secured by the local authority under section 7(1) of the Childcare Act 2006) and continues throughout the compulsory years of education where the child is in provision funded in part or in full by the state.
The role of the Virtual School for young people previously in our care is to promote their educational achievement through the provision of information and advice to their parents and schools. Parents should feel free to contact the Virtual School with requests for advice and guidance around a young person’s education.
Extended duties of the Virtual School from September 2021 Virtual School also has a strategic responsibility for the education outcomes of all children with a social worker or those who have previously had a social worker.
They are the strategic leaders who champion children with a social worker to create a culture of high aspirations and drive improved outcomes.
They will:
• Enhance partnerships between education settings and the local authority so agencies can work together. • Identify the cohort’s needs and intervene to overcome barriers to poor educational outcomes and ensure pupils reach their potential.
• Support and advise key professionals to help children make progress, including through increasing their confidence in using evidence-based interventions.
However, they do not work with individual children including tacking and monitoring educational progress. Nor will they respond to requests from parents or carers to offer advice and support in relations to individual children with a social worker.
To contact virtual school please see below:
Virtual.school@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Jo Johnson Head of Virtual School - Jo.johnson@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Pauline Douglas Deputy Head of Virtual School - Pauline.Douglas@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Jan Cook Pupil Inclusion Officer - janet.cook@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Rachael James Pupil Inclusion Officer - Rachel.james@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Helen King Pupil Inclusion Officer - Helen.king@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Rachel Oliphant Pupil Inclusion Officer - Rachel.oliphant@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Jen Stewart Pupil Inclusion Officer - Jennifer.stewart@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Nyla Imaan Pupil Inclusion Officer - Nyla.imaan@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Adoption Tees Valley
The Virtual School works closely with Adoption Tees Valley (ATV) to help support parents of an adopted child. See links below for support:
Lynne Cardwell Team manager - Lynne.cardwell@adoptionteesvalley.org.uk
Leanne Longstaff Education Support Officer - Leanne.longstaff@adoptionteesvalley.org.uk