The Virtual School for children in care resources and links

In this section you will find:

• our latest Suffolk Virtual School newsletter
• details of a few services/organisations we work with.
• various links to resources and organisations that may be helpful for professionals, families and any individual that supports children in care.

Suffolk Virtual School Newsletter - Autumn term 2024

Digital Library for Designated Teachers and Carers

We are pleased to offer a range of interactive modules to Designated Teachers and Foster Carers to support the needs of children and young people. Four modules will be available each term, selected specifically for each group, and each module takes between two to four hours to complete. They can be completed at your own pace to fit in with your commitments and you can choose how many you wish to complete. Once each module has been completed, the participant will receive a digital badge and a certificate of completion.

These information leaflets provide details about how to sign up. Once signed up, participants will have access to the modules released each term.

Partnership working to support education for CiC

We work closely with other services within Suffolk County Council and several external agencies too. A few examples include:

• Psychology and Therapeutic Services at Suffolk County Council. Within PTS the Inclusion Facilitators team have a helpful list on their web pages with suggestions to support children and young people.
• Psychology and Therapeutic Services at Suffolk County Council provide valuable guidance with their Keys to Inclusion advice for the adults working to support a child or young person.
• Suffolk Libraries Children in care aged 0 to 18 years old are eligible for a free Suffolk Libraries card with no overdue charges for late items. For more information please visit their website.
• Inclusion Services and Specialist Education Services. Please see the Local Offer website for information on referrals to the LA’s Specialist Education Services, including CISS, the Dyslexia Outreach Service, the Multi-Agency Assessment Panel (MAAP) and Specialist Admissions. Please follow this link to access the Inclusion Services referral form.

Useful links and further guidance

• Guide for Designated Teachers and PEP writers for Suffolk children in care
• Department for Education guidance about children in care
• Education Endowment Foundation
• National Association of Virtual School Heads
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on the emotional health of children in care
• Rees Centre for Research in Fostering and Education
• The Fostering Network
• Children Act 1989: care planning, placement and case review. Statutory guidance about local authority support to children and families.
• Statutory Guidance for Designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children
• Pupil premium: Virtual School Heads’ Responsibilities
• Children in Care Council
• PAC-UK, the country’s largest independent Adoption Support Agency
• Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked-after children. Statutory guidance on the planning, commissioning and delivery of health services for looked-after children.
• Emotional Wellbeing Gateway - Mental Health Services & Support in Suffolk.
• Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
• Anti-Bullying Alliance have some useful modules on their training catalogue including ‘Looked after Children and bullying’
• Propel for care leavers, providing information on the support available at colleges and universities across the UK.
• UCAS has information detailing undergraduate support for care leavers, including information to help with finance, settling in, and accommodation.
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service (SENDIASS)