Information for parents

How the virtual school can help carers of a child in care.

As a carer, you play a significant role in enhancing children in care’s educational progress and achievements. 

It is important that you build good relationships with staff in school that have an active role in your child’s education, particularly:

  • the class teacher,
  • designated teacher 
  • pastoral staff such as learning mentors

What we offer

Virtual school staff are here to help by providing the following:    

  • regular monitoring of attendance with all schools who have Westmorland and Furness children in care on roll. This ensures that any child in care who is not attending regularly is identified quickly so that support can be put in place
  • regular liaison with designated teachers and schools for early identification of attendance or behaviour issues - achievement teachers and inclusion officers speak to designated teachers regularly about children in care in their school
  • where pupil premium is useful to help and support attendance and/or behaviour then it will be targeted through the Personal Education Plan (PEP) - carers are part of the PEP process
  • where there is a history of poor behaviour and/or attendance or attendance drops below 90% the inclusion officer will arrange a multi-agency meeting and include the carer in the process

Contact us

For further advice, or if you have a question, email:

virtualschool.businesssupport@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk