Children join school in Reception Class following the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum before moving onto the National Curriculum and progressing through Years 1 to 6 before the transition to secondary school.
St Helens Virtual School supports the children we look after through collaborative working to ensure every child is supported to achieve their full potential. We work very closely with primary and secondary schools.
We aim to support our children by:
- ensuring they have an effective Personal Education Plan (PEP).
- improving their educational attainment.
- improving their attendance and reducing exclusions.
- ensuring they attend the most appropriate school.
- minimising barriers to accessing the curriculum.
- improving their continued participation in education, employment, and training.
We aim to support Designated Teachers and Social Care staff by:
- providing extensive training opportunities with opportunities to keep up to date with research-based approaches.
- providing advice on appropriate uses of PP+ funding.
- providing opportunities for Designated Teachers to network to share good practice.
- creating a culture of high aspirations for young people.
- signposting to advice and guidance for children who are previously looked after, children with a social worker and children in kinship care.
- promoting collaborative working to ensure the best outcomes for all care experienced children.
School age PEPs
All Children We Look After, who are of statutory school age, must have a Personal Education Plan (PEP) completed each school term. For more information about PEPs please see our PEP page.
PP+ funding for school age PEPs (Reception to Year 11)
This academic year the amount of money allocated is £666.66 per term for statutory school aged children.
All PP+ expenditure must be specific to the needs of the child and linked to aspirational targets to engage and raise attainment. This can include:
- 1:1 support or small group intervention. This should be focused on areas of weakness or gaps in learning with clear outcomes and its impact evaluated.
- covering part of the cost of an Educational Psychologist report.
- 1:1 intervention to re-engage a disaffected learner.
- short term 1:1 tutoring for a child on a bespoke timetable.
- extending school time eg: after school support with homework.
- specialist software or equipment beyond that normally provided by the school.
- fees for national awards such as DofE.
- staff training to enhance understanding and how to support the Children We Look After.
Virtual School Contacts
Please contact Helen Lee at the Virtual School for any help and support for children attending primary school and Michelle Hart for children attending secondary school.
virtualschoolforsthelens@sthelens.gov.uk
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