About the Virtual School
Welcome
Welcome to Staffordshire Virtual School, our team of passionate professionals want our children and young people who are looked after to Staffordshire County Council, our children who have left local authority care and our children who have a social work involvement to have great education experiences, through being supported by people who have high aspirations for them.
We want our young people to have stable education placements, in great settings that understand the impact and potential barriers that their life experiences may have on their education, attainment and achievement and do everything they can to help them aspire and achieve positive outcomes.
Role of the Virtual School
All local authorities in England are required to have a Virtual School Head who monitors the education of individual children in care as if they were in one school. We also offer support and advice for children who have left care or have a social care involvement. Our Virtual School works with schools, social care partners, parents and carers to help improve education outcomes for children.
Our aspiration is that all of our Staffordshire Schools become 'attachment aware and trauma informed' as we know that this understanding is key to ensure that our children in care, children who have left our care and children with a social work involvement can feel secure and supported to thrive in their education.
Our work is guided by statutory guidance and non-statutory guidance. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/virtual-school-head-role-extension-to-children-with-a-social-worker
Our Staffordshire Virtual School governing body acts as a forum for discussions and decisions that will support our children.
Please use our website to find out more about the support and advice that we can offer you and of course how to contact us.
Sarah Rivers
Virtual Head Teacher
Staffordshire Virtual School has produced a Handbook designed to provide support and guidance to our children and young people, their parents and carers, their Designated Teachers and social workers. We hope you find it useful.