Croydon Virtual School

Since September 2021, Virtual Schools have had a statutory duty to provide strategic oversight of the education of children, aged 0 to 18, who:

• have needed a social worker because of safeguarding or welfare needs within the last 6 years
• have a Child in Need (CiN) plan or Child Protection Plan (CPP)

The government’s Children in Need review (2019) found that around 1.6 million children had needed a social worker at some point during their childhood. This was equivalent to around 1 in 10 children nationally.

The review also identified that children who have had a social worker tend to have poorer educational outcomes than their peers. They can face additional barriers to learning, attendance and engagement, which may continue after support from social care has ended.

Croydon Virtual School works with education settings, social care and other professionals to help address these barriers and improve educational outcomes for children and young people.

How we support children with a social worker

We:

• promote regular attendance and engagement in education as an important part of safeguarding and wellbeing
• work to improve educational outcomes and reduce the attainment gap
• help identify common barriers to learning and ways to address them
• provide advice, support and challenge to professionals working with children and young people
• promote evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches that build confidence, resilience and aspiration

What we do not provide

Croydon Virtual School does not:

• work directly with individual children or their families as part of this duty
• track or monitor the academic progress of individual children
• replace or duplicate existing social care or special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) responsibilities

Read more about the Virtual School's statutory duties.

What to do if you are an education setting

You could:

• identify children who currently have, or have had, a social worker within the last 6 years. This includes children who have been subject to a Child in Need plan or Child Protection Plan
• ensure relevant professionals are aware of these children, such as your designated safeguarding lead, designated teacher and special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
• familiarise yourself with GOV.UK's guidance on supporting children with a social worker

Support for education settings

You can access:

• education advice sessions
• the children with a social worker (CWSW) model policy for schools

Support for social workers

You can access education advice sessions for statutory school-age children who:

• attend an education setting
• have a Child in Need plan or Child Protection Plan

Complete the drop-In referral (Word, 29KB) and email it to emma.blackman@croydon.gov.uk.

For further information or queries, email emma.blackman@croydon.gov.uk.