Corporate Parenting Board

10 December 2024

Virtual School Head Annual Report 2023-2024

For Decision

Cabinet Member and Portfolio:

Cllr. C Sutton, Children's Services, Education & Skills

Local Councillor(s):

Cllr

Executive Director:

P Dempsey, Executive Director of People - Children

Report Author:	Jo Smark-Richards

Job Title:	Service Manager (Virtual School Headteacher)

Tel:	01305 221632

Email:	jo.smark-richards@drsetcouncil.gov.uk

Report Status: Choose an item. Choose an item.

Brief Summary:

The Virtual School Headteacher’s Annual Report 2023/24 evaluates the progress, attendance and outcomes for our Children in Care and Care Leavers during the academic year. It highlights the work of the Virtual School during the year to increase stability for our children within education, to celebrate their successes and ultimately to support our children and young people to feel that they belong in education. The report also evaluates the work undertaken through the Extended Role of the Virtual School to provide strategic leadership and oversight for all children with a social worker, children in kinship care arrangements and children who have previously been in care.

Recommendation:

Members of Corporate Parenting Board are requested to note the content of this report which captures the work of Dorset Virtual School over the last academic year and progress made against our priorities 2023-2024. The report also identifies the next steps and the identified priorities for Dorset Virtual School 2024- 2025.

Reason for Recommendation:

As Corporate Parents, all members of the board seek to stay informed about Dorset children in care and care experienced young people, to offer challenge and support. The Virtual School Headteacher’s Annual Report provides members with an opportunity to review the work of the previous year, to consider what has worked well and to plan priorities for the next academic year.

Please note Appendix 1 is the Virtual School Headteacher’s Annual Report 2023/24

Financial Implications

1.1	The Virtual School receives DfE funding each year to support children in care, those previously in care, and those with a social worker as per DfE guidance.

Natural Environment, Climate & Ecology Implications

Well-being and Health Implications

3.1	Children’s wellbeing is paramount to the work of the Virtual School and is evidenced throughout the report.

Other Implications

None

Risk Assessment

HAVING CONSIDERED: the risks associated with this decision; the level of risk has been identified as:

Current Risk: Low

Residual Risk:Low

Equalities Impact Assessment

Appendices

Appendix 1: Virtual School Headteacher’s Annual Report

Accessible table showing impacts

Table of recommendations

Background Papers

None

Report Sign Off

9.1	This report has been through the internal report clearance process and has been signed off by the Director for Legal and Democratic (Monitoring Officer), the Executive Director for Corporate Development (Section 151 Officer) and the appropriate Portfolio Holder(s)

Accessible table showing impacts

Natural Environment, Climate & Ecology Strategy Commitments	Impact
Energy	No known impact
Buildings & Assets	No known impact
Transport	No known impact
Green Economy	No known impact
Food & Drink	No known impact
Waste	No known impact
Natural Assets & Ecology	No known impact
Water	No known impact
Resilience and Adaptation	No known impact
Corporate Plan Aims	Impact
Prosperity	minor positive impact
Stronger healthier communities	strongly supports it
Sustainable Development & Housing	neutral
Responsive & Customer Focused	minor positive impact

Table of recommendations

Recommendations	Responses -will this be incorporated into your proposal? How? And if not, why not?
Energy
No recommendations found for this category
Buildings & Assets
No recommendations found for this category
Transport
No recommendations found for this category
Green Economy
No recommendations found for this category
Food & Drink
No recommendations found for this category
Waste
No recommendations found for this category
Natural Assets & Ecology
No recommendations found for this category
Water
No recommendations found for this category
Resilience & Adaptation
No recommendations found for this category