Virtual School for children in care and previously in care
Information and resources for supporting the education of children and young people previously in care, and their parents and carers
COVID-19 update
Please note that the Virtual School have changed the way they operate. However, we are very much here to support designated teachers in schools and children at home with their carers.
We've sent out revised guidance to all designated teachers about how the Virtual School will be supporting you and children in care (PDF 87KB).
Helpful links
Government guidance on remote learning
Resources from the Education Endowment Fund
Transitions during COVID-19
Update for the new school year
TouchBase Transition Primary School Guide
TouchBase Transition Secondary School Guide
Creating Opportunities for Connection Experiencing Being Held in Mind (PDF 274KB)
School Transitions in children in care and previously in care (PDF 370KB)
Previously in care: Information and resources for supporting the education of children and young people previously in care, and their parents and carers
- Resources for support during COVID-19 (PDF 354KB)
- Update on Virtual School support during COVID-19 (PDF 382KB)
- COVID-19 example secondary home timetable (PDF 302KB)
This information has been sent out to parents, carers and schools.
April 2020: some useful websites for parents, carers and for professionals
Safe Hands Thinking Minds resources
Please find a range of learning websites below that both children, young people, carers and parents can access to support with learning and preparation for exams.
Audible lets you instantly stream an incredible collection of stories. All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet.
P.E with Joe Wicks. Every morning Monday – Friday at 9am, live on You Tube.
SENECA provides free revision for GCSE and A Level pupils.
The White Rose Maths Team has prepared a series of five maths lessons for each year group from Year 1-8. The will be adding five more each week for the next few weeks.
TED-Ed celebrates the ideas of teachers and students around the world.
The home of news and fun facts for kids. Find out what is going on, with stories, pictures and videos.
Learn a language with Duolingo.
Games for tomorrow’s programmers. Blockly Games is a series of educational games that teach programming.
Journey through nearly 14 billion years of history in this self-guided, six-hour version of Big History. You'll find every chapter full of great activities to keep you entertained and test your learning.
Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries.
Smart videos for curious minds of all ages.
Videos for Primary Science on YouTube.
Learn Geography whilst playing games.
Day-by-day projects to get kids, reading, thinking, and growing:
Learning from home (PDF 660KB)
BBC Bitesize (Primary and secondary)
National geographic: (Primary and secondary)
Tips for success and how carers can help (Primary and secondary)
Oxford Owl for primary school children (Primary)
Learning for primary school children (Primary)
Support for families, parents, carers and guardians
Help younger children calm their anxieties
From Brighton & Hove Charity Safety Net, see a range of helpful information
Helpful advice from the Young Minds charity
Support for schools, colleges and education professionals
A range of information for schools and colleges
A blog post with lots of links to helpful advice
Explaining coronavirus to children
Coronavirus: Why it might not be as scary as it sounds
Learning the facts can help ease your mind
Contact the Virtual School Team:
- The Virtual School Lead is Sam Wilson, sam.wilson@brighton-hove.gov.uk , tel: 01273 291053, 07787 697 696
- The education adviser for Years R-Y4 is Una McCartan – una.mccartan@brighton-hove.gov.uk, tel: 01273 293432 / 07833 480 080
- The education adviser for Years 5-9 is Rob Caddick – robert.caddick@brighton-hove.gov.uk tel: 01273 296480 / 07833 483 186
- The assistant adviser for Years 5–9 is Zoe Pantelli – zoe.pantelli@brighton-hove.gov.uk tel: 01273 291256 / 07833 401 630
- The education adviser for Years 10-11 is Fran Coughlan – fran.coughlan@brighton-hove.gov.uk tel: 01273 293821/ 07833 483 184
- The assistant adviser for Years 10-11 is Stevie Mather – stevie.mather@brighton-hove.gov.uk tel: 01273 296750 / 07833 483 206
- There is a current vacancy for the education adviser for Years 12-13 (Post 16), if you have any queries, please contact Sam Wilson, Virtual School Lead -sam.wilson@brighton-hove.gov.uk, tel: 01273 291053 / 07787 697 696
- The education adviser for previously in care/ adopted children and young people is Sarah Lindfield (Tue-Fri, 9-3pm), sarah.lindfield@brighton-hove.gov.uk , tel: 01273 293432, 07808 717796
- For general or finance queries, please contact the Virtual School inbox: virtualschool@brighton-hove.gov.uk , tel: 01273 293992
Our Mission: to improve the life opportunities for children in care and previously in care by supporting their education and enabling them to achieve the best they can.
What the Virtual School is
Brighton & Hove’s Virtual School was established in 2011 to maximise the educational success of approximately 300 children in care. Since 2015 the Virtual School’s remit has been extended to include young people previously in care who now live with families through adoption, special guardianship orders or residential orders.
The school is ‘virtual’ in the sense that it is not a school that students actually attend – most go to school in Brighton & Hove, with some children attending school in other local authorities. We work in partnership with children and young people aged mainly 3 to 18, with their parents and carers and with early years settings, schools, colleges, universities and social workers.
The Virtual School has a team of committed professionals with a wide breadth of expertise and has been successful in improving outcomes for children in care. We work with a range of partners and aim to further narrow the achievement gap which currently exists between this group of children/young people and their peers.
Virtual School Team Structure Chart (PDF 174 KB).
The Virtual School is now on Twitter! Follow us for news and updates.
What the Virtual School does for children in care
The Virtual School works with all children in care as if they were on one school roll. We track their attainment, attendance and exclusion and identify when and how best to support them if they are not making good progress.
The Virtual School will also put in place (or streamline) systems and structures and work strategically to ensure we meet our aim of every child on the Virtual School roll fulfilling their potential.
What the Virtual School does for children previously in care
The Virtual School also supports the education of children previously in care. We do not have the same statutory responsibilities or rights to access information about day-to-day progress for previously in care children, however, we can respond to direct requests for support from parents/carers or from schools for this group of children.
We recognise that the needs of children don’t change overnight when they leave the care system. They may now be living in a family through adoption or with wider family or friends through a special guardianship order or child arrangement/residence order and still need support to fulfil their potential. Therefore, we are also working to ensure that the systems and structures we have put in place for Children in Care are extended to include Children Previously in Care.
Why we need a Virtual School
Children in care and those previously in care can do very well in early years settings, school and college with the right support in place, despite the challenges they have faced.
However, we know that across the board there is a gap between the attainment of this group and their peers. We also know that doing well in education opens up greater opportunities as children grow up. It is vital that across Brighton & Hove the Virtual School works with all its partners to raise the profile of children in care and those previously in care, helping to remove barriers to their education and ensuring everything is done so that they achieve the best they can.
At the Virtual School we work to ensure that all children in care and those previously in care:
- achieve educationally to their full potential
- attend a school that best suits their needs
- maintain a high level of attendance without school exclusions
- enter employment, education or training when they leave school
Information for early years, schools, colleges and social workers
Guidance documents, checklists and links:
- Statutory Guidance on Education of Children in Care (PDF 211KB)
- New Behaviour Guidance Policy for Brighton & Hove Schools Sep 2018
- Improving Attainment - Children in Care - Primary (PDF 1849KB)
- Improving Attainment - Children in Care - Secondary (PDF 1847KB)
- Children in Care School Review (PDF 53KB)
- Children and Young People Previously in Care School Review (PDF 441 KB)
- Transitions Resource (PDF 840KB)
Pupil Premium Grant:
- The Pupil Premium for Children in Care - Letter to Headteachers 2019-20 (PDF 163KB)
- The Pupil Premium for Children Previously in Care (PDF 56KB)
- The Pupil Premium for Children in Care- Guidance for Schools (168 KB)
- The Pupil Premium - Making it work for your school - Oxford School Improvement (PDF 6239KB)
Teaching Toolkits:
Personal Education Plans (PEPs) and Personal Opportunities Plans (POPs):
Training Offer for Professionals, Parents and Carers:
Children Previously in Care - guidance for schools:
- Links to useful resources (PDF 334 KB)
- Meeting the needs of adopted and permanently placed children - A guide for school staff (PDF 2.22MB)
- Welcoming an adopted child to your Nursery (PDF 351 KB)
- Welcoming an adopted child to your Primary School (PDF 351 KB)
- Welcoming an adopted child to your Secondary School (PDF 349 KB
- Free whole school and class resources- Inner World Work
Information for parents/carers
- Children Previously in Care Pupil Premium Plus Grant
- Personal Education Plans and Personal Opportunities Plan (aimed at Young People in Care 16+)
- Network for Adopters in Brighton & Hove Schools - school based group for parents (PDF 83KB)
- Adoption Support Fund - a national grant to fund therapeutic support for families through adoption and Special Guardianship Orders
- Adoption Support Passport - a list of services and ways to access support for you and your family
- Virtual School Workshops and clinics for parents of children and adopted from care 2020 to 2021
- Virtual School workshops and clinics for CARERS of children previously in care 2020 to 2021
- Meeting the Needs of Adopted and Permanently Placed Children – parent/ carers guide - Adoption UK
- Permanently Placed Children Key Questions for Primary
- Permanently Placed Children Key Questions for Secondary
General Information
- Spotlight on adoption support practice in Brighton and Hove Schools (PDF 124KB)
- Early Learning Free Entitlement and Early Years Pupil Premium - Children in Care and Previously in Care
- Priority School Admissions - for Children in Care and Previously in Care (see links to Primary & Secondary school admissions booklet)