Virtual School information for parents, carers and pupils

Welcome to Herefordshire's Virtual School, where parents, carers and our young people can find out more about us and what we do.

About our Virtual School

At our Virtual School, we are dedicated to working in partnership with your child's educational setting to make sure they receive the support they need to fulfil their potential at every stage of their education. Our role it to act as a champion for children in care, children with a social worker and children in kinship care to ensure that all children achieve their academic potential.

We take every opportunity to celebrate and highlight the successes of our looked after children across Herefordshire. We also provide advice, information and training on education around previously looked-after children and those children with a social worker.

We make sure:

Looked after children are admitted promptly to schools and that, once started, they flourish through good attendance and the best academic attainment and progress
We monitor how well looked after children are doing at school and step in when we see they need extra support
We work with teachers in schools to give looked after children access to the best possible expertise to help them succeed
We work with fellow professionals and adults to ensure excellent outcomes for looked after children are not jeopardised if things are difficult

The Virtual School isn't in a school building, children attend their own school where they're on roll. The team at the Virtual School support at meetings and events (in person or online) and our team is based at offices in Hereford.

Support

We will help you with your:

Personal Education Plan (PEP),
Pupil premium plus (PP+) funding
and link you with our STEPs team who provide an programme of activities and events.

We have a fantastic team at the Herefordshire Virtual School who are here to support, so please feel able to get in touch to share good news, as well as when support is needed.

You can contact us at virtualschool@herefordshire.gov.uk and find out more on our Virtual School Facebook page.

Education Adviser for Children Previously Looked After and Kinship Families with a Special Guardianship or Child Arrangement Order

We have a dedicated Education Adviser who can offer advice and guidance to schools and parents/carers with a child or children who were previously looked after and kinship families where a Special Guardianship or Child Arrangement Order is in place.

Our aim is to empower parents and carers of children previously looked after and kinship families to champion their children and young people in education and to ensure that advice and information is clear, up to date and accessible.

How we can help:

Offer advice, guidance and training to professionals, schools, colleges and families who have a child or young person who was previously looked after or Kinship families where there is an SGO or CAO in place.
Be part of the final Personal Education Plan (PEP) meeting for each child or young person as they leave care.
Work creatively with parents, carers, and schools to help overcome any barriers to successful learning.
Champion the use of the children previously looked after support plan to create a partnership agreement between the child/young person, home, school and professionals to ensure effective provision.
Provide guidance on supporting the transitions of children and young people through year group, key stage and school changes.
Provide advice to parents and carers when planning for the education of their children, and to signpost to other sources of support, information and advice.
Promote the active involvement of children and young people in influencing their educational Journey.
Provide advice and guidance on effective use of PP+ for children previously looked after.

Documents

Useful information and further advice

For more information please get in touch with Laura Palmer, Education Adviser for Children Previously Looked After, email laura.palmer@herefordshire.gov.uk or phone 07792 880848.