Vale Virtual School
The Vale Virtual School for children who are looked after exists to improve the educational experience and outcomes of these children. We are part of the Corporate Parenting Team for children in care.
The Vale Virtual School does not have its own school building, but we do have a staff team namely the Learning Links Team (LLT). Our pupils go to real schools or education settings. We work with the staff in those settings to action plan and offer support and we can monitor and track how well our children and young people are doing.
Why do we need a virtual school?
Many individual children and young people in care, or who are previously looked after, enjoy and do well at school. However, some children and young people can face extra challenges in their education. The Virtual School has a Lead Officer to fulfil the local authority’s statutory duty to promote the educational achievement of its looked after children, and children who were previously looked after, wherever they live or are educated.
We work in close partnership with children and young people, Children’s Services, parents/carers, and schools to meet the individual needs of children looked after so that they can access an appropriate education and achieve the best possible educational outcomes.
We provide a first point of contact and linking service for schools, foster carers, social workers, supervising social workers, Independent Reviewing Officers, in the Vale of Glamorgan and other local authorities, ensuring a joined up multi agency approach to support children looked after on their road to success.
We work with children in Early Years, Statutory School Age and Post 16
The Vale Virtual School is for children and young people who are:
- In the care of the Vale of Glamorgan and educated in the Vale of Glamorgan
- In the care of the Vale of Glamorgan and educated in another local authority
- Children and young people who are previously looked after by virtue of an Adoption Order, Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangement Order
Children and Young People
The Fostering Network
Adoption UK