Agenda item

The report gives a summary of the academic year 2020-2021 for children in care.  A profile of the cohort is shown along with outcomes for young people.  Due to the cancelation of examinations (because of covid) the data reported for this time period is less that other years.  The report gives an overview of attendance and exclusions, the statutory meetings that take place for children in care – Personal Education Plans (PEPs) and the spending of Pupil Premium Plus which is the grant received for each child in care, the Virtual School Head has the responsibility of distributing and ensuring this funding has impact on the learning and educational achievements of children in care.

The Virtual School and College Headteacher presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report gave a summary of the academic year 2020-2021 for children in care.  A profile of the cohort was shown along with outcomes for young people.  Due to the cancelation of examinations (because of covid) the data reported for this time period was less than other years.  The report gave an overview of attendance and exclusions, the statutory meetings that take place for children in care – Personal Education Plans (PEPs) and the spending of Pupil Premium Plus which was the grant received for each child in care, the Virtual School Head had the responsibility of distributing and ensuring this funding had impact on the learning and educational achievements of children in care.

The Committee discussed the report and comments were made, including:

• In response to a query about the Ofsted ratings of the KS5 provision in comparison to the others, the Committee was reassured that whilst the local post 16 provider was currently rated as ‘requires improvement’ and a large number of pupils wished to attend it with their peers, the virtual school worked closely with them, including the KS5 team working in the college one day a week to support the pupils.  It was also highlighted that work was ongoing with a designated teacher looking at attainment and progress to ensure the pupils were getting the best possible education.
• Considering Pupil Education Plans (PEPs) and their effects, in response to what a good one would look like, the Committee was advised that it needed to clearly show attainment and progress that the young person was making.  It should include contributions from the young person and all those involved with their care and education and needs to show what needs to happen for that young person to move forward with their education.  The last aspect was to demonstrate how pupil premium grant was being spent to help the young person progress
• A follow on question regarding how Pupil Premium money was used, the Committee was advised of the process used 
• don’t give money upfront to schools – what money is being spent on is discussed by all attendees at PEP meeting – linked to targets and monitored at next meeting.
• In response to a query regarding the reduction detailed regarding Children Missing Out on Education (CMOE), the Committee was advised that this was an important part of the virtual schools role ad was regularly monitored through different methods.  The team always strived to get the young people back on roll. Ensure aware of where are and what doing.
• In response to a query about providing IT equipment to all young people, the Committee was advised that various government schemes had helped enable this and if internet issues had been a problem then dongles were purchased to support those in need.  It was acknowledged that IT provision was very important.

The Chair summarised the discussions as follows:

• Virtual school and what does
• Post 16 choices and what can be done to help
• Details of what a good PEP included
• PP grant and how spent
• CMOE – where they were and what was being done to address the issue
• Lockdown and IT equipment and support.

RESOLVED that the content of this report is accepted as an annual update of the work undertaken by the Virtual School and College for children in care.