Agenda item

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 the view of the team around the child is that this will benefit the child

The Chair asked how school admission policies across B&NES treat looked-after children.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy & Commissioning replied that the Bath and North East Somerset School Admissions booklets for primary and secondary schools shows that all Bath and North East Somerset schools and academies comply with the Department for Education School Admissions Code and give looked after children and children who were previously looked after the highest priority. He added that school admission of looked after children to B&NES schools and academies is very rarely a problem. He said that Local Authorities can direct schools to admit looked after children if necessary and they have to seek a direction from the Secretary of State for academies but we have not had to do this to date.

Councillor Matt Cochrane asked if looked after children are generally able to attend the same school as other children in their foster family.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy & Commissioning replied they were. He added that it can sometimes depend on where they are living but we support looked after siblings attending the same school if it was believed this was in their best interests.

The Chair explained that she had proposed the following three additional recommendations to the Headteacher of B&NES Virtual School for Children in Care in relation to the priorities for the academic year 2015/16 and that he had agreed with them.

(i)  Divide the priorities and actions into two distinct items, one being concerned with raising the aspirations of all those who work with looked after children, the other raising the aspirations of the child

(ii)  Ensure all primary carers are expected and equipped to provide educational support for learning and are regularly monitored for progress in this area.

(iii)  The Letterbox Club scheme should be extended to the small number of looked after children in Yrs. 1 & 2.

The Chair asked what looked-after children themselves say about their education and aspirations.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy & Commissioning replied that all looked after children are asked for their views by their teachers before meetings and these are recorded in their Personal Education Plans.  He added that the Virtual School facilitated a project for the Senior In Care Council last summer where they produced two podcasts about being in care. He said the young people made positive references to the Virtual School in the recordings which can be heard here:

http://www.offtherecord-banes.co.uk/news-event/news/listen-to-our-senior-in-care-council-podcasts/

He said that he would ensure that the voice of looked after children is reflected in the 2016 annual report.

The Chair asked if looked-after children are able to participate in after-school activities and enjoy learning and achievement in all its forms - if not, what the barriers are.

The Director for Children & Young People, Strategy & Commissioning replied yes, absolutely.  He said the vast majority are involved in activities in and out of school and the Virtual School promotes this for example by funding school trips and promoting schemes such as the National Citizen Service.  He added that barriers to participation are rare but participation may necessitate changes to pick up times by carers or taxis for example. 

The Panel RESOLVED to approve the following officer recommendations as well as those proposed by the Chair earlier in the debate:

(i)  For elected members to ask about the progress of children in care when they visit schools in their wards.

(ii)  For elected members to approach the Virtual School Headteacher, Michael Gorman for information on the performance of schools in their wards for looked after children.

(iii)  For elected members to consider joining the Corporate Parenting Members’ Group if they do not already belong.

The Chair said that a letter should be sent to all Councillors regarding these recommendations.