Virtual School

What is the virtual school?

Our role is to:

  • promote high aspiration and raise achievement through challenge, support and targeted intervention
  • ensure that children in care access high quality learning
  • work closely with all those involved in the care and education of looked after children providing training and support to help understand the issues and challenges they face

The virtual school is an additional resource which exists to support and challenge all those involved in the education of children in care. It is involved in, or promotes nationally and locally, various initiatives to support the educational achievement of children in care.

The virtual school is not a teaching tool or environment. It does not replace the school or educational provision of children in care.

All children in our care from the age of 2 and in education post-16, including university, are part of Central Bedfordshire’s virtual school.

The virtual school team is a small, multi-disciplinary, team working to raise the educational attainment and attendance of children and young people. It works in close collaboration with colleagues across the authority, and also in partnership with the third sector.

It tracks educational progress, while supporting and monitoring work with children and young people in care. It works to help young people achieve their full potential, and offers support and advice to those who care and work with them. It also offers support and advice for carers, parents and guardians of previously looked-after children.