Welcome Back!
Welcome back to a new school year, I hope you all had a restful break and got away from thinking about work for a while.
We have 2 main areas of focus this year for our Children in Care and those on CP/CIN Plans:
- Reducing NEETS (Not in Education, Employment or Training); and
- Improving attendance
We look forward to working with you to ensure all we do raises the aspirations of our children to keep them engaged in learning, wanting to be in school and then moving on to a positive plan at the end of year 11.
New Staff Updates
Attendance / Collection of Attendance Data: we welcome Rebecca Brooks (Attendance Improvement Officer) to the team, she will be working with us for 4 days a week to support schools, carers and children to attend school consistently, so reducing persistent and severe absence and increasing the chances of positive learning outcomes.
For schools out of Devon and independent schools in Devon we will be using Welfare Call to ensure all attendance data is collected daily and we expect that any Child in Care, whose attendance is below 90%, has an attendance target set in their PEP. We are hoping that Rebecca can help us change the mindset among some of our partners and carers that ‘90% is good enough’ as this is still equates to one day off every 2 weeks!
We are pleased to welcome Matthew Medd to the Virtual School Team in the new role of Aspirations Officer. Matthew’s remit is to provide aspirational and inspirational vocational opportunities for our students to keep them engaged with their education and to help them make informed decisions for future career plans. Initially he will be working with Mo Hurley, our Post 16 Area Learning Advocate, to reduce the number of students not in education, training or employment. Matthew will also be the point of contact for our new mentoring scheme from Young Devon. You may well meet Matthew at PEPs this term for students in Key Stages 3, 4 and 5. He can be contacted on matthew.medd@devon.gov.uk or 07890 530337.
Mentors from Young Devon
We do have access to Mentors from Young Devon for secondary age young people – if you feel this would be helpful for any of your students please let Matthew Medd know emailing matthew.medd@devon.gov.uk.
We are looking at opportunities across Devon for our young people to move on into work and training, if you feel you could offer an apprenticeship, work experience or mentoring around an employment area we would love to hear from you.
We are also thrilled to have our own VS Apprentice, Aava Jeffery, join us this Summer and she’s already proving to bring a lot to the team.
Our Plan for PEP Meetings 2023/24
Our Plan for PEP Meetings 2023/24: you will see below the schedule for this year’s face-to-face PEPs, please do not feel limited by this as it is the minimum expected, if you choose to hold all your PEPs face-to-face that is fine. It is unlikely that we will be able to attend as many PEPs this year, with growing numbers of Children in Care and many other pulls on our time but we will attend the face-to-face PEPs according to the schedule and as many others as we can.
Could I please ask that we encourage our children to attend their meeting, even if it is just for the last 10 minutes, as it is good to give feedback on the flavour of the meeting, share targets and celebrate their successes.
- Autumn Term 2023: Face-to-face PEP Meetings for Years 1, 2, 8, 9 and 13
- Spring Term 2024: Face-to-face PEP Meetings for Years 6, 7, 11, Reception and Early Years
- Summer Term 2024: Face-to-face PEP Meetings for Years 10, 3, 4, 5 and 12
A big thank you for the many great PEPs completed last year, there was another increase in timeliness of completion and quality.
We have a small number of PEPs that are still not completed and really need them to be done, so a last push please, as last term’s PEPs will be closed and noted as incomplete after the 11 September.
Tips for a Good PEP: I know I am always repeating this but a good PEP should include the info listed below, as Social Workers may use the PEP information to support Court proceedings as it should be a complete summary of the child’s education journey.
- Voice of the child;
- Views of those people attending the meeting;
- Attainment and attendance data;
- SMART targets;
- Pupil Premium funding information (if applicable);
- Notes of the meeting;
- A date for the next meeting;
- Any SEND information.
If you need training on how to use the ePEP system please contact your PEP Support Officer or Area Learning Advocate (see contacts at the end of this newsletter).
Virtual School Website
Just a reminder that all our Protocols, Guidance, Forms, ePEP information and plenty of other useful resources can be found on the Virtual School Website.
See Information for Schools, Settings and Governors There is also a section for Adopted Children & those under Special Guardianship Orders
Designated Teachers’ Conference 2023: Keep Me In Mind
Fri 6 October 2023 @ Sandy Park, Exeter
9.00am – 3.30pm
Keynote speaker: Mary-Anne Hodd
All children need to feel welcomed, safe and known in their school. Children in Care need this even more, as often school is their only comfort in life.
How can we ensure our schools help every child thrive and want to attend every day? Our Children in Care need to be involved in learning, so they can be ready to achieve the best possible outcomes and be ready to lead a full, independent adult life.
Price: £65 per person (to include refreshments and lunch)
Book your place on our DT Conference
PLEASE NOTE: you need to be logged in to your Devon Education Services account to book. If you don’t have an account please register
For any registration/log in queries please contact the DES Training/Conference Team on devoneducationservices.co.uk | educationsales@devon.gov.uk | Tel: 01392 287224
Dates for your Diary
Designated Teacher Network Meetings:
- 13 November 2023 from 2.00-3.30pm via Teams (focus to be confirmed)
- 22 January 2024 from 2.00-3.30pm via Teams (focus to be confirmed)
- 14 March 2024 from 2.00-3.30pm via Teams (focus to be confirmed)
- 20 May 2024 from 2.00-3.30pm via Teams (focus to be confirmed)
- 18 July 2024 from 2.00-3.30pm via Teams (focus to be confirmed)
Hold these dates in your diary and Outlook calendar invites will be emailed to all DTs nearer the dates, if you don’t receive the invite please request from kate.clarke@devon.gov.uk
New DT Refresher Training
We are aware that Designated Teachers change and move on and to help with this the Virtual school and Educational Psychology Service are running a training/information session aimed at new DT`s or those who would like a refresher about the role. The virtual training sessions will be held termly to cover new people taking up the role as the school year unfolds and to give a choice of dates. Each session will be the same so you would only need to attend one. Structure of the training:
- 1 hour to understand trauma, attachment and why a CiC may need something additional from a school setting;
- 1 hour looking at ‘What it means to be a DT and the statutory duties it entails’.
Dates:
- 18 September 2023 from 2.00 – 4.15pm via Teams
- 31 January 2024 from 2.00 – 4.15pm via Teams
- 8 July 2024 from 2.00 – 4.15pm via Teams
- 16 September 2024 from 2.00 – 4.15pm via Teams
To attend the New DT Refresher Training please request the calendar invite/Teams joining instructions from kate.clarke@devon.gov.uk
Any Changes to Designated Teachers/Contact Info?
If you have a change of staff please email educate.virtualschool-mailbox@devon.gov.uk to inform us of your new Designated Teacher’s name and email address – so we can ensure that our emails are sent to the correct person and that your new DT is set up on the ePEP system. Many thanks.
KS5 Exam Results 2022/23 Request
If you have KS5 Devon Looked After Children on roll you should have received an email in July from schoolcensus-mailbox@devon.gov.uk to request academic feedback / exam results for any KS5 Devon Looked After Children who have accessed Post-16 provision for last academic year 2022/23.
The email contained a spreadsheet relevant to any KS5 LAC you have on roll, designed to be as simple as possible and already pre-populated with the majority of information needed. It included drop down choices that best fit the young person(s) in question.
Just a reminder that if you’ve not already returned this data could you please do so as soon as possible, the deadline is Friday 29 September 2023.
If you have any questions or cannot find the original email request please contact the School Census Team at schoolcensus-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Building Relationships that make a Difference: Developing Relational Support Plans
This one-day *free* course explores the theories which underpin our understanding of effective relationships and their role in learning, development and wellbeing as well as developing the skills and practical strategies that underpin the relational and ABM approach.
The course includes:
- why relationships are key to teaching and learning
- the role of the adult as a source of safety, security, regulation and belonging
- the impact of anxious relationships on thoughts, feelings and behaviour and what we can do to help
- using relational support plans to develop universal to targeted support
The course is aimed at Senior Leaders, DTs, SENCos and teachers in school who have responsibility for co-ordinating relational support and who may be facilitating relational support plan meetings.
Training dates:
- 20 September 2023 (full but you can request a place on waiting list)
- 6 December 2023 (full but you can request a place on waiting list)
- 19 March 2024 (places available)
EP Service – New Consultation & Support Service for Children in Care (funded by the Virtual School)
From June 2023 the Virtual School Team are funding a new Consultation & Support Service (run by the Educational Psychology Service) aimed at supporting schools to include all care-experienced children.
The purpose of the service is to ensure timely identification of need and early intervention to support Children in Care.
This new offer extends to:
- All Children in Care in Devon schools (regardless of their address or the Local Authority they are in Care to);
- Post-16 young people; and
- Children who are under Special Guardianship Orders but who were not previously Looked After.
Children who are in Care to Devon but placed outside of the County should, in the first instance, contact their local EP Service for support.
Each school will have one or two named Educational Psychologists (EPs) who will work with the school and will be their first point of contact when there are concerns regarding Children in Care or care-experienced children.
The EP will initially discuss concerns with either the SENCo or Designated Teacher and together establish what support is needed. In some cases, an initial telephone discussion may be sufficient to answer the school’s concerns. If a consultation or casework relating to an individual child is needed the school will be asked to complete a referral form and gain consent for EP involvement in the usual way.
Possible support may include:
- Signposting to centrally-held courses and/or other appropriate support and materials available;
- Attending a PEP meeting, EPAC or Planning for Success Meeting;
- Facilitation of meetings such as a Relational Support Plan, Co-Regulation Plan, Circle of Adults or Person-Centred Planning meetings;
- Training/workshops for staff on understanding and meeting the needs of CiC and PLAC;
- Supervision/coaching for adults working closely with CiC and PLAC, either individually or within a group;
- A general, rather than child-specific, ‘plan-do-review’ consultation cycle focusing on the needs of the care-experienced children in the setting. This might involve identifying themes relating to need and provision required and may address systemic issues, eg. support for transition;
- Support for an individual child:
- A ‘plan-do-review’ consultation cycle
- Casework following an ‘assess-plan-do-review’ cycle.
In some cases, EPs may suggest that several schools join together to access training, workshops or supervision.
We ask that the following children are prioritised and that DTs consider EP involvement in the following cases:
- When children are new into Care;
- When children are at risk of suspension or exclusion;
- At times of transition (new to the school, placement change, transition between year groups and key stages, particularly secondary school transition);
- When children are showing the early signs of emotionally-based school non attendance;
- When there are concerns relating to mental health and wellbeing;
- When children are failing to make expected progress.
To enquire about this offer please contact your patch EP (see list below) or call the EP Service central number 01392 287233
- North Devon: Rachel.Edmundson@devon.gov.uk or Claire.Bedford@devon.gov.uk
- West Devon: Rachel.Hearn@devon.gov.uk
- East Devon: Dan.Nicholls@devon.gov.uk
- South Devon: Louise.Goodchild@devon.gov.uk
Bereavement Support for Families
Families in Grief are increasingly focusing on providing bereavement support training to professionals and schools about how best to support children and young people (and their families) who have experienced the death of a loved one.
Children in Care particularly face additional challenges when bereaved so if you think we could help any of the children you have on roll, or their families, please pass on the details of Families in Grief: Clare Maynard, Administrator/Communications, Tel: 01237 479027 / clare@familiesingrief.org
NASA Space Challenge (7/8 October 2023)
An exciting opportunity for all science lovers aged 1-100!
The NASA Space Apps Challenge is a free annual hackathon hosted by the Met Office at the Exeter HQ, geared towards those with an interest in science, technology and coding.
Over 48 hours, participants work together to solve challenges of their choosing put forth by the Met Office and NASA – it’s an interactive event which provides useful experience and networking opportunities.
Find out more and register (please note children under 16 need to be accompanied by an Adult)
https://www.spaceappschallenge.org/2023/locations/exeter
We hope all our budding scientists will go along there is no charge for the 2 days.
Virtual School Contact Info
If we can help in any way please do not hesitate to get in touch…
- Julie Potter (Exeter & East Devon) julie.potter@devon.gov.uk Tel: 01392 384571
- Campbell Orr (North Devon) campbell.orr@devon.gov.uk Tel: 01392 388448
- Sarah Acland (Exeter & Mid Devon) sarah.acland@devon.gov.uk Tel: 01392 382372
- Andrew Squire (South & West Devon) andrew.squire@devon.gov.uk Tel: 01392 380918
- Mo Hurley (16-18 year olds & NEETs) mo.hurley@devon.gov.uk Tel: 01392 386479
- Deryn Dewing (advice/guidance on adopted children and those on SGOs) deryn.dewing@devon.gov.uk Tel: 07977 194545
- Wendy Ohlson (VS Headteacher) wendy.ohlson@devon.gov.uk
- Kate Clarke (VS Administrator) kate.clarke@devon.gov.uk
View the latest Virtual School Structure chart
I hope we will see many of you at the Designated Teachers’ Conference at Sandy Park Exeter on 6 October where the theme is `Keep me in mind`. We will be exploring how to ensure children feel included, attend well, achieve better outcomes and thereby increase their life chances.
I hope to catch up with lots of you over the coming term but please do get in touch if we can help in any way.
Kind regards
Wendy (Virtual School Headteacher)