Staffing   Virtual School Headteacher Worcestershire Virtual School would like to welcome Colette Maynard who has taken over from Gwen Fennell as Interim Virtual School Headteacher.   We would like to thank Gwen for her hard work over the last three years.   Previously Looked After Children Adviser We would also like to welcome Richard Upwood to the team. Rich has joined us on secondment, initially for one year, from St Johns Middle School in Bromsgrove as maternity cover for Jade Busby as Previously Looked After Children (PLAC) Education Adviser.

Professional Development

Save The Date - Friday 20th March 2020 Annual Virtual School Conference This conference at Worcestershire Cricket Club is aimed at Designated Teachers for CLA/PLAC. Look out for more details, plus booking form to follow in the January 2020 newsletter.

E-PEP Update We hope that you are finding the new E-PEP format easier to use and more informative. We have received lots of positive feedback. Designated Teachers – please check in tab 2 'The PEP Meeting' that you have added your name and contact details plus that you contribute to Questions 5 and 6.   Our Quality Assurance processes have shown that these boxes are often not completed.

Attainment and Progress Data Inputting attainment and progress data onto Welfare Call - Deadline dates for 2019 - 2020   Please update your pupil's data 10 working days before but no later than the term's deadline date. This will ensure that the Virtual School has a current picture of your child/young person's attainment and progress and will influence our strategic direction and future interventions/support. We have created a new feature to the attainment section of the PEP so that you can monitor when you last entered academic data – this information is displayed below and to the right of 'the key descriptions'.   Autumn Term 2019 Please enter attainment and progress data onto Welfare Call by Friday 10th January 2020. The window for updating data is between Monday 16th December 2019 and Friday 10th January 2020.   Spring Term 2020 Please enter attainment and progress data onto Welfare Call by Friday 24th April 2020. The window for updating data is between Monday 30th March and Friday 24th April 2020.   Summer Term 2020 Please enter attainment and progress data onto Welfare Call by Friday 10th July 2020. The window for updating data is between Monday 29th June and Friday 10th July 2020. Year R – please enter final ELG and GLD judgements in 'End of EYFS Results' tab. Years 2 and 6 – in addition please use the SATs tabs where appropriate for KS1 and 2.   Years 1 and 2 - please complete the question asking for phonics screening results in the attainment section of the PEP. Year 11 external examination/accreditation data will be collected directly from schools as opposed to schools entering this information onto Welfare Call. The VS will email you instructions in the Summer term.  Please don't enter KS4 accreditation results onto the PEP.   Download deadline dates PDF

Previously Looked After Children The provision and support for Previously Looked After Children in schools is very much in the spotlight with DfE recognising that the children who have previously been in care have significant trauma related attachment issues in school. Richard Upwood and the Worcestershire Virtual School are focussing on raising the profile of Previously Looked After Children in school as well as working closely with Adoption Central England (ACE) to support parents/guardians and signpost them to support.  In order for schools to access the £2,300 funding (per pupil/per year), parents/guardians must declare their child's adoptive, SGO or CAO status directly to the school before the school completes the January census. Parents and guardians must provide evidence, for example, a copy of the legal order, or a confirmation letter from the local council which placed their child. Parents should not need to declare their child's status again until the child changes school. Parents are not obliged to declare this information. Richard will be sending a draft letter to all Designated Teachers in December informing parents of this.  In his role as PLAC adviser, Richard is available Monday to Friday to take calls, respond to emails and attend meetings with regards to promoting the attainment and achievement of Previously Looked After Children, supporting school to meet the academic and emotional needs of Previously Looked After Children and advise on how PP+ is spent.  Contact details for Richard Upwood: Email: rupwood@worcschildrenfirst.org.uk  01905 843198