Previously looked after children
The role of the Virtual School for previously looked-after children (PLAC), is to promote their educational achievement through the provision of information and advice to their parents, educators and others who the Virtual School considers necessary.
Who is considered a previously looked-after child (PLAC)?
A previously looked-after child is a child or young person who has been in care to a local authority in England or Wales and left care by being adopted, under a special guardianship or child arrangement order.
Who is eligible for support from the Virtual School?
Support begins from the point at which the child becomes eligible for free education, up until they complete statutory education. Support, advice and guidance is available for the parents and guardians, designated teachers and schools as well as early years settings.
What we offer?
The Virtual School can provide support, advice and guidance for both the young person and the school.
The Virtual School does not oversee the Pupil Premium Plus funding for previously looked after children. This is allocated directly to schools based on their January census. We also do not hold any academic data on children who have left care.
Children with a social worker and children in kinship care
The Virtual School team is dedicated to offering advice, support, and guidance to children with a social worker and those in kinship care, championing better outcomes in school attendance, educational attainment and progress.
Children with a Social Worker:
The Virtual School aims to create a culture of high aspirations across both education and social care that helps to ensure children with a social worker make educational progress and reach their potential by:
- enhancing partnerships between education settings and the local authority so agencies can work together in a child focused manner.
- identifying the needs of the cohort and addressing any barriers to ensure pupils make educational progress.
- offering advice and support to key professionals such as social workers, designated teachers and school leaders to help children make progress, including through increasing their confidence in using evidence-based interventions.
Children in Kinship Care:
The Virtual School aims to bring greater focus and visibility to the distinct needs of children in kinship care by:
- raising awareness of the needs of children in different types of kinship care arrangements.
- promoting practice that supports attendance and engagement of kinship children in education.
- promoting practice that improves the educational attainment of children in kinship care.
How can I contact the Virtual School for support?
Please email us virtualschoolforsthelens@sthelens.gov.uk
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