Issue - meetings

This report provides information and analysis on the work of the Bath and North East Somerset Virtual School for Children in Care for the last academic year.

The Chair asked if looked-after children are disproportionately represented at BCA.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy & Commissioning replied that there are four B&NES looked after children on roll at BCA – one came into care in January and another two weeks ago.  The other two have been in care and at BCA for over two years.  He said that the Virtual School is aware of the concerns around BCA and have taken the following steps to support these young people:

• Assessed whether each young person in care should move to a better performing school – this includes taking the young person’s views into account.  In each case we have decided that they should stay at BCA with support from the Virtual School.  Moving schools means moving young people away from friends, siblings and supportive teachers at times of other big changes in their lives, and young people in Years 10 and 11 (three of the four young people) will have their GCSE studies disrupted if they move.  Research published by Oxford University last November shows that young people in care who change school in Years 10 or 11 score over five GCSE grades less than those who did not.
• Provided additional Pupil Premium Plus for extra one to one tuition and teaching assistant support where needed
• Monitored attendance, progress and planning with extra diligence.  The two looked after children who have been in care and at BCA for over two years have 100% attendance and are making good progress in their learning. 
• Welcomed BCA onto our Attachment Aware Schools training programme this year

He added that in the experience of Virtual School staff, there is good pastoral and special needs support for pupils at BCA and on balance we believe that these looked after children are more likely to achieve better educational outcomes and stay in stable foster placements by staying at BCA with support.

Councillor Liz Hardman commented that she was concerned that 34% of the 35 care leavers aged 16-18 in 2014-15 were not in education, employment or training by the end of the academic year. She asked if these young people were tracked in anyway and what attempts are made to get them back on board.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy & Commissioning replied that attempts are made to keep in contact with those young people.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked for the Panel to receive a follow up report at a future meeting to identify the current status. She also asked what plans do the Virtual School have to raise the educational attainment of BME children in care.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy & Commissioning replied that it depends on individual cases of course but additional support provided for BME looked after children include:

·  Mentoring e.g. in one school one Year 8 looked after child is being mentored by a sixth former who is BME

·  B&NES Black Families Support Group Voice Minority Supplementary School

·  Additional teaching assistant support

·  Moving schools where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66