The Hertfordshire Virtual School Information Report

TheVirtual School brings together information about children and young people who are looked after by Hertfordshire as if they attended a single school. We support all children and young people aged between 4 and 19, and up to 25 if they attend further or higher education. We are currently extending into the 0-3 age range with the introduction of the Early Years pupil premium funding for children aged 3-4.

Our role includes:

championing theirlearning needs whether they are educated in the county or at a distance;
ensuring they have the best possible education and every chance to realise their potential;
offering personalised support plans and interventions to raise attainment and aspirations for the future;
tracking their progress and targeting resources effectively to promote achievement.

The Virtual School employs a range of advisers and support workers who work with children and young people, schools, early years settings andother education settings, social care teams and carers. We are located across Hertfordshire in County Hall, Hertford, Farnham House, Stevenage, Apsley 2, Hemel Hempstead and The Foyer, Hatfield.

If you would like to find out more about the Virtual School or you have any questions or concerns please contact:

Felicity Evans, Virtual School Head – 01992 556915

Email:

This document is published by the Hertfordshire Virtual School and includes information on the support available to all children and young people looked after by Hertfordshire, including those with SEN. It fulfils the requirements of the SEN Information Report.

To find out more about Hertfordshire’s local offer of services and provisions for children and young people with SEN visit:

How does the Virtual School know if children and young people need extra help and what should I do if I think the child I look after may have special educational needs (SEN)?
In the first instance, if you are concerned about the progress of the child you are looking after is making or you think they may have SEN, you should talk to the designated teacher at your child or young person’s school or other education setting.
The Virtual School knows every child or young person well.
We do this by:

monitoringPersonal Education Plans (PEP)
attending some PEP meetings
collecting and analysing attainment and progress data for every child and young person in school
holding pupil progress meetings
talking to children, schools, social care teams and carers
monitoring attendance

How will the Virtual School support the child or young person I look after?
The Head of the Virtual School will:

ensure the educational achievement of children looked after by Hertfordshire is seen as a priority by everyone who has responsibilities for promoting their welfare
create a culture of high aspirations
implement pupil premium plus arrangements(A copy of the Hertfordshire Pupil Premium Plus policy is available online at )
plan additional provision or interventions from within the Virtual School resources to promote educational achievement

Education Advisers will:

work with the designated teacherat the child or young person’s school or other education setting to make sure appropriate provision is in place
monitor the educational progress of the children and young people
deliver training
oversee the deployment of Education Support Workers

Post 16 Personal Advisers will:

give direct support to young people to access further education, employment, training and university
provide advice and guidance to social care teams and young people on further education, employment, training and university

Education Support Workers will:

if appropriate, provide targeted individual or group support/mentoring as part of an agreed action in the PEP

How will I know how the child I look after is doingand be involved in discussions and planning for their education?
In addition to school consultation evenings and normal reporting arrangements there will be other opportunities to discuss a child or young person’s progress at a PEP meeting.
These may be linked to another education focused meeting such as an SEN review or Child Looked After (CLA) review.
How will the educational provision be matched to the needs of the child I look after?
The Virtual School expects schools and settings to be delivering a graduated response to meeting the needs of children and young people who are looked after. The diagram illustrates the importance of high quality classroom teaching being in place before additional school- based interventions are introduced. Additional or different, personalised provision funded by the pupil premium pluscanthen be clearly targeted tosupport specific needs identified in the PEP action plan.

What support will there be for the wellbeing of children looked after?
We support the wellbeing of all our children and young people by:

listening to the views, wishes and feelings of children and young people through the pupil voice element of their PEP meetings and through the Children in Care Council annual consultation
mentoring individual children and young people
tracking and monitoring attendance
monitoring children and young people who are in part time or alternative provision with a view to returning to full time education as soon as possible
including vulnerable groups as a monthly agenda item at the Leadership Team meeting
ensuring we have agreed plans to support children with disabilities and/or medical needs taking part in our interventions
working together with colleagues in social care and health
advocating in the exclusion process

What training have the Virtual School had to support children with SEND?
Everyone is encouraged to attend relevant training on SEND.

Education Advisers were provided with support and guidance on assessing the progress of children and young people working well below age related expectations and the use of P scales in summer 2014.
All staff received training on the new special educational needs and disability code of practice: 0 - 25 years in September 2014.
All staff will receive an update on SEND during the Autumn Term 2015.

What specialist services and expertise does the Virtual School provide?
Education Advisers, Post 16 Personal Advisers and Education Support Workers work directly with schools and settings and social care teams. They provide, where appropriate:

advice and guidance on the education of children looked after
training
direct work with a child or young person during term time
individual or small group interventions during school holidays

How will the Virtual School help others to support the education of the child looked after?
We provide regular training for schools and other settings, social care teams and carers on a range of topics and in different locations in Hertfordshire.
Every year we publish handbooks for designated teachers, social workers, carers, early year’s practitioners and post 16providers. These provide up-to-date information on educational issues.
The Virtual School works in partnership with Herts for Learning to ensure efficient challenge and monitoring of children placed in Hertfordshire schools.
How will the Virtual School identify who should be invited to take part in activities and interventions?
The Virtual School uses an Assess, Plan, Do and Review model to identify children and young people who may benefit from additional or different provision from within our own resources.

Children and young people will be invited to take part in these interventions and designated teachers, social care teams and carers will be informed.
The Virtual School provision map describes the interventions in more detail. Postcards are being developed to share this information with carers and children and young people.
How accessible is the Virtual School?
We aim to ensure all our activities and interventions are accessible.
We welcome individual discussions to ensure we meet the needs of each child or young person.

Glossary

Updated Version September 2015