Croydon Virtual School

Our aim to better the educational and employment outcomes, as well as the life chances, of each and every child who passes through or stays in the care of us.

Previously cared for children

The duty of the virtual school

We have a duty to promote the educational achievement of previously cared for children. These are children subject to an adoption order, special custodianship order, or another child arrangement order, who have not returned to live with their birth parents. We uphold this duty by providing advice and information to:

  • any person that has parental responsibility for the child
  • providers of funded early years education, Designated Teachers for previously looked-after children in maintained schools and academies
  • any other person the Local Authority considers appropriate for promoting the educational achievement of relevant children

Visit the GOV.UK guidance for promoting the education of looked-after children

The designated teacher for previously cared for children

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 states that governing bodies have a duty to designate a suitable member of staff to promote the educational achievement of previously cared for children, including those adopted from abroad. 

The designated teacher ensures all staff are aware of the needs of these students and contributes to school-wide policies affecting them, including the use of Pupil Premium and other sources of funding. 

The designated teacher should work closely with parents and guardians to ensure the best outcomes for the child, socially, emotionally and educationally.

Visit the GOV.UK guidance regarding the designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children

Education advice and information for parents and carers of a previously cared for child

If you are the parent/carer of a previously cared for child and you have concerns about your child’s education or wellbeing at school, you should contact the school and request a meeting with your child’s teacher/tutor, the school’s designated teacher for children we care for and previously cared for children and or the special education needs and disabilities coordinator.  You might also wish to invite your child’s head of year if your child attends a secondary school.


School staff are welcome to contact us by email, virtualschool@croydon.gov.uk  for advice and support. There are various training opportunities available to them through our Designated Teacher Network meetings. Parents and carers are also welcome to email us if you need advice or guidance on school matters.

Admissions

Care experienced children are among the most vulnerable children in society and it is of paramount importance that a school place is found that is in the best interests of the child as quickly as possible. Admission authorities must give highest priority to children we care for and previously Cared for Children.

The admission requirements for Previously Cared For Children are set out in the School Admissions Code. This Code applies to maintained schools and academies, including free schools. Visit our School Admissions page for further information.

Visit the Department of Education's admissions priority for children adopted from state care outside of England. This is the guidance for admission authorities and local authorities.

Adoption UK

Adoption UK is the leading charity for adopted and care experienced people, adoptive families, and others parenting children who can’t live with their birth parents.

Visit the Adoption UK website

The Adoption Support Fund

The adoption support fund (ASF) provides funds to local authorities and regional adoption agencies (RAAs) to pay for essential therapeutic services for eligible adoptive and special guardianship order (SGO) families.
The ASF is available for children and young people up to and including the age of 21, or 25 with an education, health and care plan, who:

  • are living or placed with a family in England while waiting for adoption
  • were adopted from local authority care in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland and live in England
  • were adopted from abroad and live in England with a recognised adoption status
  • were in care immediately before a SGO was made
  • left care under a special guardianship order which subsequently was changed to an adoption order, or vice versa
  • are under a residency order or child arrangement order (CAO) and were previously looked after
  • were previously looked after but where the adoption, special guardianship, residency or CAO placement has broken down, irrespective of any reconciliation plans

Visit the GOV.UK guidance regarding the Adoption and special guardianship support fund