The Virtual School: previously looked after children

If children have left care through adoption, a Child Arrangements Order (CAO) or Special Guardianship Order (SGO), the Virtual School Headteacher's job is to support their academic success by giving information and guidance to their parents, teachers, and any other individuals deemed necessary. This has been part of our extended duties since 2017.
 

The role of the Virtual School for previously looked after children

This extended area of responsibility for Virtual Schools is a strategic and signposting remit only. We do not hold cases for previously looked after children and Virtual School Headteachers are not held accountable for their students' academic achievement or progress in school. This reflects the fact that the local authority and Virtual School Headteacher are no longer the corporate parents of previously looked after children. Likewise, the Virtual School Headteacher is no longer accountable for the use of Pupil Premium Plus funding, as this goes directly to the school and should be reported on by them. For the 2024 to 25 academic year, Pupil Premium Plus funding for previously looked after children is £2,570 per child.

This duty applies to previously looked after children in West Berkshire schools, regardless of where the child lives. This helps us to reduce the amount of cross-border work.

In West Berkshire, we take a three-tiered 'building up' approach to supporting our previously looked after children in schools. This is detailed below.

Tier 1

Generalised guidance, information, and advice (GIA) - giving the foundations to all schools:

• Designated Teacher network meetings
• Designated Teacher newsletters
• attachment and trauma advice
• attendance at Headteacher forum events
• online resourcing
• parent coffee mornings
   

Tier 2

Setting-specific guidance, information, and advice (GIA) - helping individual settings to build on their foundations:

• attachment and trauma training
• whole school consultation
• replying to school requests for advice
• professional drop-in sessions
• signposting specific partner services
   

Tier 3

Individual advocacy:

• supporting some multi-agency work
• parental advice requests
   

For previously looked after children, the Virtual School Headteacher is a source of advice and information to help parents to advocate for their children as effectively as possible, and to support schools in meeting their needs in an effective way.
 

You can contact West Berkshire's Virtual School by emailing virtualschool@westberks.gov.uk.
 

Accessing advice

The Virtual School provides a regular opportunity to meet, discuss concerns and provide advice. This is open to parents and schools.

In order to access this advice, download and complete the request for advice form below, and email it to virtualschool@westberks.gov.uk.

Virtual school Headteachers will want to request documentation of the child's previously looked-after status, to confirm with the child's parents that the child is eligible for support. Schools should therefore make sure that they have consent to share a child's information before contacting us.