Welcome

There are five more weekly editions of Heads Up before December and I am focusing on one 'WE' each week*. This week I am concentrating on WE2c. We commit that Children who are Looked After (CLA) will be supported to reach their potential and that we will provide a wide range of opportunities such as leisure activities and apprenticeships. We say that we will remove barriers and raise educational aspirations for Children who are Looked After and Care Leavers.

There are currently around 400 children of statutory school age in the care of Warwickshire County Council. In addition there are a further 200 children attending Warwickshire schools who are in the care of other local authorities. These children, along with those who have left care due to adoption, Special Guardianship or a Child Arrangement Order, are our most vulnerable children.

We know that it can be very difficult for children and young people to cope with the demands of school if their experiences of family life and early childhood have been traumatic. You provide the stability and security that these children need and are the role models they can aspire to. We can persevere on their behalf when life is throwing challenges at them. As Deena Moorey, Headteacher of our Virtual School, says: 'It just takes one person to stand by a child, advocate for them, never give up on them and show them the way through their stresses'.

I have seen on my visits to schools that so many of you positively promote the education of CLA and Children Previously Looked After (CPLA). Despite many challenges, you build success by raising aspirations and providing opportunities to build resilience and academic achievement. We are proud of our designated teachers who go the extra mile and do not falter in their quest.

The Virtual School designated teacher training for this year was very well attended, resulting in additional sessions being set up. Virtual School Education Advisers are on a new cycle of visits, where they work with designated teachers to ensure that they have the knowledge and understanding to promote the education of our CLA and CPLA. You can contact your allocated Education Adviser at any time, either directly or through the general Virtual School email address: virtualschool@warwickshire.gov.uk.

Further details are also available on the webpage: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/virtualschool

You can read more about the Education Strategy and who attends the various partnership boards here: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/educationstrategy

* The beady-eyed mathematicians among you will notice that my original countdown failed to allow for the half term break!

Chris Malone

Covering the role of Assistant Director Education Services