About the Virtual School

Norfolk Virtual School is part of the Safeguarding, Partnership and Opportunity Service, operating within Norfolk Children's Services. We are dedicated to supporting the education of children and young people in care, previously in care, under a kinship order and those with a social worker from early years through to the end of Year 13, as well as offering guidance to care leavers and those who support them.

Promoting the education of looked after and previously looked after children

Video overview of the Virtual School

Norfolk In Care Council asked for a short video giving information about the Virtual School. We worked with a young person who edited the script, composed and performed the music, provided the voiceover and was involved in every stage of the production. 

The role of the Virtual School Head

The Virtual School Head for Norfolk is Keeley White. This is a statutory role under the Children and Families Act 2014, with responsibility for ensuring that the right arrangements are in place to support and improve the educational experiences of children in care—both within Norfolk and those placed outside the county.

The work of the Virtual School is also shaped by the Ofsted inspection framework, which sets clear expectations for how local authorities support children in care. These expectations guide our planning, priorities, and the way we deliver our services.

The Virtual School team and what we do

Our team of experienced advisers works closely with:

• Children and young people
• Schools and educational settings
• Social care teams, carers and families
• Other partners

Promoting the education of children in care

As part of our statutory duties, Norfolk Virtual School is committed to ensuring that children in care receive the support they need to succeed in education. Our key responsibilities include:

• Monitor attendance and Progress
• We oversee DfE Pupil Premium Plus Grant Funding ensuring it is used effectively to improve educational outcomes for children in care.
• Every child in care must have a high quality, effective Personal Education Plan (PEP), we ensure these plans are well-targeted and that Pupil Premium funding is clearly linked to the child's educational goals.

• We work to ensure that children in care are placed in schools that best meet their individual needs. 

• We hold schools, services, and professionals to account where necessary, ensuring that the needs of children in care remain a priority.

• We regularly report on the attainment and progress of looked after children through Norfolk's corporate parenting structure, helping to inform strategic planning and decision-making.

• We promote the importance of listening to children and young people, ensuring their views and experiences are reflected in decisions about their education

Services offered by the Virtual School for Children Previously in Care

Statutory guidance for local authorities sets our new duties in respect of children previously in care. This to promote their educational achievement by providing information and advice.  

Statutory guidance for designated teachers sets out the responsibilities for designated teachers in respect of children previously in care.

For more information see our page on Support for children previously in care.

We offer information, advice and training to schools, early years settings and Post 16 providers as well as families and professionals supporting previously in care children and young people.  For more information on our offer of support please see our page on Our offer to schools and teachers.

Promoting the education of children with a social worker and children in kinship arrangements - Virtual School Head Role Extension

Promoting the education of children with a social worker

The Virtual School has non-statutory duties to work in a strategic leadership role to promote the educational outcomes of:

• Children with a social worker and those who have previously had a social worker who are aged 0 to 18
• Children in kinship care arrangements

The Virtual School will work to champion the educational attendance, attainment and progress of children with a social worker and those in kinship care by:

• Raising awareness of needs and making visible the disadvantages that children with a social worker or those in kinship care can experience
• promoting practice that supports attendance and children's engagement in education
• promoting practice that improves educational attainment and has high aspirations for children in these cohorts.

Further information about how we are working to support each cohort can be found on the following pages on our website: Support for Children with a Social Worker/In Kinship Care - Norfolk Schools and Learning Providers - Norfolk County Council

Contact us

General enquiries - [email protected]  01603 303323

Children in Care - [email protected]

Children Previously in Care - [email protected]

Children with a Social Worker - [email protected]

Kinship Care -  [email protected]

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children - [email protected]