Agenda item

Collette Maynard, the Virtual School Headteacher, gave a presentation about the experiences of Looked After Children during Covid-19.

Her team included 11 members of staff who now worked for Worcestershire Children First; they included Personal Education Plan (Personal Education Plan) Co-ordinators who worked with 412 Looked After Children within the County and Area Learning Officers who looked after 121 Looked After Children placed outside the County.

At present 19 young people were classed as Missing in Education but their circumstances were known to the Virtual School Team with some being in year 11 and unclear where they would go next. All children, whatever their circumstances, got the same support from PEP Co-ordinators and meetings were held with the Child and their Carers, Social Workers and teachers. Meetings enabled SMART targets to be planned and reviewed.

Various projects were underway. The Fresh Air project and the Be You Project worked with individuals with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs and offered various activities. There was also a number of different Arts Events.

Data was collected from schools and during the spring term (prior to the 20 March lockdown) 70% were making progress and 61% were classed as motivated most of the time. The Virtual School were concerned with those who were not motivated and were working on improving that number.

Staff had been concerned to find out how Covid-19 was affecting Looked After Children and were keen to find out through PEP meetings what activities the young people were involved in. Pupils were taking part in lots of different and new activities during the lockdown and information had been gathered giving the Pupil and Carers voice. In general, Officers wanted quality learning for Looked After Children and the opportunity for them to make the best of the situation.

The Virtual School Head Teacher confirmed they collaborated with social Care teams and concerns were raised if needed. The welfare of all Looked After Children was considered and if necessary those with the highest need were prioritised for additional support.

In the ensuing discussion various points were clarified:

·       At the Children and Families Scrutiny Panel meeting it had been requested that budgets be considered to see if young people could be given more support to attend colleges. This query had been received and an update would be given at the Virtual School Board Meeting

·       Board members were surprised at the number of young people in placements outside the County. It was explained that placements were made as close to home as possible, but a suitable placement may not be available within the County, especially if a specialist place was required and sometimes it was felt that particular young people would be safer in placements away from home. Generally, Worcestershire had a good proportion of its young people in County or close to home.

·       The Virtual Headteacher attended the Resource Panel when requests for accommodation were considered to ensure that the young person’s education was disrupted as little as possible

·       When it was queried why there were more boys with EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plans) and SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) needs the Virtual Head replied that it was unclear but further work would be done in that area and Virtual Head Teachers in other areas would be consulted.