Parents and guardians of children previously in care

Working together, succeeding together

Education can change the lives of children, raise their aspirations and be the key to stability and success in later life. Our children can achieve and succeed with the support and positive relationships of all those working with them.

What is the Virtual School?

Nottinghamshire Virtual School is a local authority service and our role is to promote the education of our looked‑after and previously looked‑after children. This is actioned through our support for schools, carers, parents and social workers to help our children to have positive educational experiences. Previously looked after children (PLAC) are those who are no longer looked after by their local authority (in England and Wales) because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship or child arrangements order.

The aim of the Virtual School

The aim of Nottinghamshire Virtual School is to promote educational achievement and positive outcomes for our children in care. By working in partnership with schools, parents, carers and social workers, we can help our children succeed together.

Nottinghamshire Virtual School has extended its role to include supporting children previously in care, children with a social worker (including those on Child in Need (CIN) or Child Protection (CP) plans), and children in kinship care. Our team offer advice and guidance for parents, families and professionals in different ways. This includes:

having Achievement Officers who respond to emails, telephone calls and enquiries received through our advice and guidance email or phone lines.
developing resources and offering training which supports parents, families and professionals.

Virtual School advice and guidance

Please reach out to the Virtual School for any advice and guidance to support your child, using the contact details below.

For queries relating to children who are previously looked after or in kinship care: Virtualschooladvice@nottscc.gov.uk
For queries relating to children with a social worker: virtualschool.cwasw@nottscc.gov.uk
Telephone: 0115 804 4677

Whilst we are unable to complete direct work around our children who are previously looked after, we can provide a consultation space and clarity with local processes, including but not limited to attendance, suspensions, SEND and pupil premium.

Resources and training

Previously Looked After

Nottinghamshire Virtual School offer Emotion Coaching training for parents of children who are previously looked after. This has been designed to support adults with the skills to ‘Respond in the Moment’ (Golding), to ‘Emotion Coach’ children when they are emotionally dysregulated. To obtain further information on the date and location for the training, as well as to book your place, please email Virtual.School@nottscc.gov.uk

Children with a Social Worker

The Virtual School offer support to social care colleagues working with children on Child in Need (CIN) or Child Protection (CP) plans. For further information on this, please contact the Virtual School.

Kinship

In Nottinghamshire, we recognise that kinship carers play a vital role in supporting children, often making remarkable sacrifices to keep their families together. As part of the Nottinghamshire Plan, we’ve set up a Kinship Support Service which is on hand to support all families in a Kinship arrangement, whether you have a Special Guardianship Order, Child Arrangement Order or a private or informal arrangement. Please explore the resources below.

Take a look at our leaflet to find out more.

Kinship information hub