The Virtual School is able to promote educational achievement of PLAC to anyone the Virtual School Head considers appropriate. This will usually be the parents and educators of PLAC, from the point they become eligible for free early education, up to the end of Year 11. Children must be learning at an education setting in Milton Keynes although they may live outside of the county.

The Virtual School will respond to requests for information and advice from parents, providers of early education or Designated Teachers (DTs) in schools, or sign-post them to other services that can offer advice and support. 

In particular, the Virtual School team develops a good working relationship with DTs for PLAC in the area and makes general advice and information available to all early years settings and schools, to improve their awareness of the vulnerability and needs of this group of children and young people. This includes promoting good practice, identifying and meeting their needs, and guidance on effective use of the Pupil Premium Plus funding.

Pupil Premium Plus funding for permanently placed children (often referred to as PP+) was introduced in 2014 in recognition that children who ceased to be looked after as a result of adoption, a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or a Care Arrangements Order (CAO) often require extra support and help in school in view of their early life experiences.

• PP+ is currently £2690 per year, per eligible pupil.
• PP+ is paid directly to the child’s school.

Parents/carers of PP+ eligible children MUST self-declare their eligibility to their child’s school, providing proof of their child’s status.

The funding should be used to help these children emotionally, socially and educationally by providing specific support, to raise their attainment and address their wider needs. You can find a Pupil Premium Plus guide for parents and carers on our Virtual School webpage.

Parents can call the Virtual School for advice and support, including advocacy and contacting the school on your behalf. We can also signpost to CAMHS, Post Adoption Support, SEND teams and other support services.

You can contact us on the Virtual School Duty Line on 01908 254779 9am to 3pm weekdays. You can also make a referral to the Virtual school, by completing this Microsoft Form.

The Virtual School offers all Milton Keynes schools training for all staff on attachment and trauma, and advises schools on attachment friendly strategies, such as:

• The role of a key adult o The use of a safe space
• Preparation and support for transition and change
• Emotional literacy support including emotion coaching, PACE and wondering aloud o Strategies to support executive functioning skills
• Targeted use of PP+ funding
• Use of resources and checklists to track and monitor progress for emotional wellbeing

There’s no statutory requirement for a PEP for Previously Looked-After Children. However, Designated Teachers may have regular meetings with the child and their parents, guardians, or carers to:

• Discuss the child’s educational strengths and needs
• Record all agreed actions

We encourage schools to meet with parents, guardians, and carers of Previously Looked-After Children and have suggested forms for supporting these meetings on the ‘Teachers and Professionals’ page of the Virtual School website.

Transitions and change can be exceedingly difficult for adopted children and planning needs to be in place prior to these changes.

This information created by PAC may be helpful - PAC-UK Education Resources - Family Action – as well as further resources on the ‘Parent and Carer’ page of the Virtual School website.

Our local authority has a school admissions department, and they are responsible for ensuring your child gets a school place. Since September 2013, Looked After Children (LAC) and children who left UK care on an Adoption Order, Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order (formerly Residence Order) have the highest priority. The authority which placed your child can provide a letter confirming your child's status.

The admissions code states:

1.7. All schools must have oversubscription criteria for each 'relevant age group' and the highest priority must be given, unless otherwise provided in this Code, to Looked-After children and all Previously Looked-After Children. Oversubscription criteria must then be applied to all other applicants in the order set out in the arrangements.

You can find the full admissions code here: School admissions code - GOV.UK. Local guidance can also be found here: School admissions | Milton Keynes City Council.

Liaise with the school to understand the circumstances of the suspension or exclusion. You will receive written communication outlining what happens next. Local and statutory guidance can be found on the Milton Keynes City Council webpage - School Exclusions | Milton Keynes City Council. You are welcome to contact the Virtual School for further advice.