If you’ve just come into care, things might feel a bit confusing or different right now. You might be going to a new school, meeting new people, or trying to settle into a new place where you are living. That’s where the ßÙßÇÂþ» Virtual School comes in, we are here to help you with your education and make sure you feel supported.
Page contents
What is ßÙßÇÂþ» Virtual School
ßÙßÇÂþ» Virtual School is a team of professionals who work to support children and young people in care with their learning. Even though it’s called a 'school', it’s not a place you go to every day like your regular school. ßÙßÇÂþ» Virtual School doesn’t have classrooms, uniforms, or a playground. Instead, we work behind the scenes to make sure you’re getting the right support in your actual school.
We will work closely with your school, your social worker, and your carers to help you do well in your education. We make sure you have a school place that suits you, help create and review your Personal Education Plan, and check that you’re getting the help you need. We also listen to your views and make sure your voice is heard when decisions are made about your learning.
We believe in your potential. We will always want you to feel confident, happy and supported in school, and we're here to help you succeed, not just in your learning, but in your future too.
How can ßÙßÇÂþ» Virtual School help you
When you’re in care, your education is really important, and we are here to help make sure you get the support you need to do well in school and feel confident in your learning. We work closely with your school, your carers, and other professionals to make sure everything is in place to help you succeed. Here are some of the ways we support you:
- We will help to find a school that suits your needs and helps you feel safe, settled and supported.
- We create a Personal Education Plan (which is sometimes called a PEP) just for you. This helps everyone understand how to support your learning and what goals you’re working towards.
- If you’re finding school work hard or if you need some extra support, we will work with the adults who are supporting you to help you do your best.
- We want to hear how you’re feeling about school and learning. Your thoughts and opinions matter, and we’ll listen and help where we can.
- We will always be proud of you and will celebrate your achievements, whether you’ve done well in a subject, made new friends, or tried something new.
Your Personal Education Plan
A Personal Education Plan, or PEP, is a special plan made just for you to help you do well in school. It’s like a guide that shows what support you need, what you’re good at, and what goals you’re working towards.
Some of the people who might attend your PEP meeting are:
- Your designated teacher – this is someone in your school who supports children and young people in care. They will work with your teachers to help them understand what support you need and help organise things like extra help or time to talk.
- Your Education Support Officer (ESO) – this is someone from ßÙßÇÂþ» Virtual School who works with your school, your social worker and your carers to make sure your education is going in the right direction. They help check your progress, give advice and make sure your PEP is strong and helpful.
- Your social worker
- Your carer
- And most importantly, you!
Everyone works together to make sure the plan is right for you. Your PEP includes things like:
- How you’re doing in school.
- What subjects you enjoy or find tricky.
- What help you might need (like tutoring or extra time).
- Your goals for the future.
- Anything else that might make learning easier for you.
Your PEP helps make sure you get the right support at school. It’s updated regularly so everyone knows how you’re doing and what you need to succeed. It’s also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ideas.
Remember, you’re the most important person in your PEP. Your voice matters, and you’ll be asked how you feel about school and what you’d like to achieve. It’s all about helping you do your best and feel happy in your learning.