What is the ‘Virtual’ School?
Although we are not a ‘real’ school with buildings and classrooms, our Virtual School aims to do the very best we can to help Somerset Children Looked After and Previously Looked After children enjoy education and succeed in the real schools they attend.
What do we do?
We work closely with Designated Teachers, Social Workers and other adults, giving advice and helping to make sure our children and young people are able to make progress and thrive at school. We work with all the adults involved in a child or young person’s education to make sure learning is supported effectively. We work with school staff at times when there might be difficulties in school, for example if there are issues with attendance or exclusions. We arrange training and other support for staff and can sometimes offer 1-2-1 support for children and young people at times of need, for example when moving between schools, through our small team of Education Support Workers. We also love to celebrate the many and varied educational successes of our young people.
A summary of our service and the way it works to support through different educational phases can be found in the document links here:
VS-Guidance-Document-Early-Years
VS Guidance Document – School Years
VS-Guidance-Document-Previously-Looked-After
(all updated August 2023)
How do we know what is happening in school?
Once each term a Personal Education Plan (PEP) is completed for Children Looked After, providing a snapshot of their life in school and we use these plans to understand how our children and young people are doing at school, whether they have all the support they need and to ensure any additional needs are documented and plans to access the help necessary are effectively mapped out and followed up.
How can you get in touch with us?
General queries about our service can be directed to thevirtualschool@somerset.gov.uk
We also have a role providing advice and guidance for Previously Looked After Children. More about this work can be found on the dedicated tab on this website. Queries relating specifically to these children can be emailed to PLACInclusionSomerset@somerset.gov.uk