Working with schools
The virtual school works with schools, colleges and nurseries to make sure the targets for looked after children are challenging enough, their results and attendance improve and the number of exclusions go down.
The virtual school is the champion for looked after children by:
- Helping headteachers and schools to look for ways to overcome any barriers the cared for children may face
- Ensuring that every cared for child has a Personal Education Plan or ‘PEP’, which looks in detail at their individual needs
- Working closely with all those involved in the child's education, giving them the support and help they need - for example, training for teachers, social workers and carers
Excluding cared for children
The exclusion of cared for children should be avoided where possible and schools should only ever exclude a child as a last resort.
The Fair Access Team monitors all exclusions and can offer support and advice to schools. You can contact them at exclusions@rochdale.gov.uk.
What works in education
We know that children and young people who have had a social worker have, on average, lower attainment than their peers. However, we don't have a good sense of what works to improve educational outcomes for this group.
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has analysed data from the National Pupil Database and 63 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to look at the impacts of educational interventions on the attainment of young people who have had a social worker.