Our Partnership and Outcomes team work closely with all schools, settings and colleges, as well as with multi-academy trusts, to ensure that policy and practice creates a relational, ambitious and aspirational culture for all children known to social care. Their support includes:

• Advisory work in line with the development priorities of the school - for example developing the ability of governors to hold senior leaders accountable or curriculum considerations
• A robust training offer for a range of stakeholders including schools, social workers and carers
• Oversight of the statutory PEP process
• Oversight of attainment and progress

Our Inclusion and Engagement team support individual children in care at points in their educational journey where they may be in need of some support. This support can be initiated in a variety of ways including:

• Data analysis showing that there is a need - for example a dip in attendance
• Referrals from schools or social workers
• Key points of transition - for example following a change of the child's home

The Inclusion and Engagement team provides both support and challenge. The intention is to empower the team around the child and ensure that educational outcomes remain a priority.

Our 16-25 Team work to promote education, employment and training (EET) opportunities for young people through to the age of 25. This includes:

• Inclusion and Engagement support for young people in years 12 and 13 including those who are NEET (not in education, employment and training)
• EET advice and guidance for Care Leavers and the professionals supporting them
• Support for pathways into Higher Education
• Support for pathways into employment including careers guidance, work experience opportunities and short courses

In addition to our statutory duties for children in care, we also provide:

• A statutory service for our children previously in care. This includes offering advice and guidance and supporting our schools, settings and colleges to meet the needs of this group.
• A non-statutory service for children who have had a social worker (in the last 6 years) aged 0-18 for safeguarding or welfare reasons. This includes tracking the children at a cohort level and raising awareness of the specific barriers and vulnerabilities faced by this group which may inhibit educational progress.
• A non-statutory service offering advice and guidance for children living in kinship arrangements.

Promoting the education of children with a social worker and children in kinship care arrangements: virtual school head role extension - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)