Virtual School Children in Care Graduated Approach

The Doncaster Virtual School Children in Care team are here to support schools and settings to promote the education for this group of vulnerable children and young people.

We provide a wide range of support to our partner schools and can distribute additional funding called pupil premium plus (PP+) to help schools and settings improve the education for those within our scope.

Please use the frequently asked questions and scenarios below to inform your practice and seek advice from the right person.

Frequently asked questions and scenarios 

Q1: A child on our roll has entered the care of the local authority, what do I do?

A: If you have other Doncaster children or young people in care on your roll, then you should already be in contact with a Virtual School officer. Please get in touch with them and inform them of this development. We can then help you begin a number of statutory processes and look to give you an immediate release of additional funding.

Q2: This is our first child or young person to enter care on our roll, what do I do?

A: Please contact the appropriate Virtual School senior officer who will help you understand and meet the required statutory processes, allocate an officer your own and look to give you an immediate release of additional funding.

For early years and primary aged settings and schools, contact Theresa Elvin on:

theresa.elvin@doncaster.gov.uk

For secondary and post-16 aged settings and schools, contact Andy Bowling on:

andrew.bowling@doncaster.gov.uk

Q3: A child or young person in care has moved into our area and applied and/or secured a place on our school roll, what do I do?

A: Please be aware that the local authority that the child or young person was living in when they entered care is critical; once they have become the responsibility of that local authority, regardless of where they move then they remain the responsibility of their ‘home local authority’.

Therefore, please confirm which local authority is responsible for the child or young person. If this is Doncaster, then follow the above advice in questions 1 and 2. If this is another local authority, then you will need to establish contact with that authority’s Virtual School. All 142 local authorities have one. You can ask the social worker to provide you with this or just Google them!

Q4: We are experiencing challenges or have concerns as a school or setting based on the education of the child or young person, what do I do?

A: Please contact your named virtual school officer and discuss your concerns and challenges with them; if your concerns are immediate and significant and you cannot contact them directly, please call Doncaster Virtual School on 01302 737880.

Q5: We are experiencing challenges or have concerns as a school or setting based on the care of the child or young person, what do I do?

A: Please contact the named social worker and discuss your concerns and challenges with them; if your concerns are immediate and significant and you cannot get in contact with the social worker, please call 01302 734100 and ask to speak with the duty social worker. Please also inform your allocated Virtual School officer of these developments.

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