Children's Social Care
We work closely with our colleagues in children's social care by supporting in the facilitation of termly Personal Education Plan (PEP) meetings, offering impartial advice and support from an education stance on what could be the best route for success. We advise social workers on -
- the application process for school moves
- in-year transfers
- alternative learning provision
- attendance issues
- suspensions
- options for higher education
Our relationship with colleagues in social care is integral to our daily operation.
Independent Reviewing Service (IRO's)
We support Independent Reviewing Officers by attending CLA reviews and providing relevant, up-to-date information from PEPs to enhance the reviewing process. We assist during the dispute and resolution process relating to issues surrounding the care planning process of young people, and also host termly meetings and training with the IRO service.
Early Years Service
As we track children from Foundation Stage 1 onwards, we regularly liaise with the Early Years Service in order to monitor data and support young people in their transition to Primary School. We also have a Service Level Agreement set up with the EY Team in order to deliver Creative Mindfulness training to local schools in the area - promoting compassion within education settings to better meet the needs of young people that have suffered trauma.
Educational Psychology Service
Our Educational Psychology Service attends meetings and completes reports/assessments on behalf of our cohort, to best identify their needs. They also deliver training to schools on -
- Attachment and Trauma
- Emotion Coaching
- Neurodevelopment
as part of our Service Level Agreement to ensure our most vulnerable children are fast tracked to support and our local schools are trauma informed.
Hull and East Yorkshire Children's University
The Hull and East Yorkshire Children's University that provides experiences to broaden horizons and raise aspirations of vulnerable young children in the city - we've had a long standing relationship with HEYCU for over a decade now. As part of our partnership, HEYCU employ a Letterbox Club coordinator to visit some of our children and provide reading interventions to them. In addition to this, HEYCU also partner with us to provide an annual Celebration Event for Children in Care.
Post 16 Employability, Skills and Participation + Connexions
We work closely with our local authority Post 16 services to ensure our young people have the best possible learning opportunities when they leave school, supporting them into higher education and beyond.
Connexions assist us with local, time limited initiatives to engage young people in other learning opportunities and work alongside us to minimise the amount of young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), through data sharing agreements between the services and regular meetings.
School Admissions
The Schools Admissions Team will not authorise an in-year transfer or school move for a child in care without explicit authorisation from the Virtual School. We share data with the admissions team to ensure our cohorts are best supported through transition stages such as pupils moving from primary school to secondary school, and advise on the best provisions in the area equipped to meet the needs of particular pupils.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Team
The Hull SEND Team assess and review learners that have an identified special educational need or disability. The Virtual School work closely with SEND as historically, our cohorts often make up a significant percentage of pupils. We work with the team to initially identify needs, assist with the assessment process and support young people who are under an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).
Speech and Language Support
The Virtual School have a member of the team that screens young people on their SLCN needs, and after screening can refer these pupils to a local provider for formal assessment.
We commission this service outside the NHS to ensure our cohorts are fast tracked to identifying need, and then working with local education providers to ensure the pupil is well supported in their needs. As part of the Child Protection process, and the New Into Care process, a screening is offered to all children and young people.
Hull Virtual School