Agenda item

Sue Parr, Head of the Virtual School for Children Looked After (CLA) introduced a report which set out the educational achievements and attainment of school age pupils who are CLA by the Authority at the end of Key Stages 1, 2 and 4.  The report also outlined the successful strategies which are deployed to raise achievement for this group of pupils.

It was reported that assessment information at national and local level had indicated consistently that the achievement and attainment of CLA pupils is well below the performance of their peers.  Lancashire's Virtual School for Children Looked After worked in partnership with schools and Children's Social Care to raise the achievements and attainment of these pupils.  The Virtual School provided training on promoting the education of CLA for: Social Workers, Independent Reviewing Officers, Foster Carers, Residential Workers in Children's Homes and Designated Teachers for CLA in schools.

In 2011 additional funding (known as the Pupil Premium) was provided to schools to enable them to support any pupils who were in care, or had entered the care within the previous six months. The value of the Pupil Premium has risen year on year and the current value is £900 per pupil per year.  All schools are monitored on the achievement of this group of children and their use of the funding.

Lancashire Authority also funds the 'Care Matters Grant ' of £180,000  for CLA (held by the Virtual School ) to assist in promoting the educational achievements and attainment of Lancashire's CLA  through a Personal Education Plan Support Allowance (PEPSA) for any  CLA who is identified as underachieving.

It was noted that there were approximately 1400 CLA in Lancashire, that around half were in the east of the County and that 960 were of school age.  Members were presented with the 2012 results of CLA and their predicted results for 2013.  With regard to the Primary cohort, Key Stages 1 and 2, attainment and achievements rose significantly in 2012 and were predicted to continue to rise.  At Key Stage 4 in 2012 there had been a 4% improvement in achievement and attainments on 2011 (although still 2% below the national average) but the prediction was that this would rise in 2013. 

The level of training the Virtual School had provided, for example for Foster Carers, Governors, Designated Teachers for CLA had had an impact on attainment and services were now more aware of both their responsibilities to CLA and the funding streams available to them.  It was noted that one of the successes of the Virtual School was considered to be getting everybody on board as corporate parents and 'pushing' for CLA.

Every CLA had a plan for educational and social targets.  The Personal Education Support Allowance (PEPSA) had supported 496 CLAs who were identified as underachieving and funding had been used to catch up on essential skills such as Literacy and Numeracy, 1 to 1 tuition and ICT learning packages.  Social Workers could also apply for funding to be used for activities outside school such as sport or music and this funding was available not only for underachievers but also for those CLA Gifted and Talented.  Each residential children's home had an educational champion.

It was also reported that the number of Lancashire CLA going to university in 2012 had increased from 11 to 35.

In considering the report, members made the following points:

·  Whether there was an opportunity for a child to have direct input into their Personal Education Plan (PEP) via the Personal Education Review (PER).  Sue Parr responded that recently Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) would look at a plan carefully and involve a child in the review and that IROs were now able to present Achievement Awards direct to children at the review not just for educational achievements but also for those made outside school and that this was an ideal opportunity for boosting a child's confidence.

·  Members welcomed having an educational champion in residential children's homes and were impressed by the extraordinary progress made by the County Council through cultural change in this area and offered their congratulations to those officers involved

·  A request was made for attendance figures for Key Stage 4 CLA and Sue Parr undertook to provide members with these.  Regarding attendance, CLA children themselves indicated that they preferred not to move school, even if they had to have a placement move - this was now taken into consideration and could have an effect on the figures.

·  A request was made by the Chair for a Bite Size Briefing on the Virtual School for CLA and how to become a corporate 'pushy' parent to be arranged for all County Councillors.

Resolved:  That:

  i.  The report on the educational achievements and attainment of Children Looked After by Lancashire Authority at the end of Key Stages 1, 2 and 4 be noted.

  ii.  Sue Parr, Head of Virtual School for Children Looked After, be thanked for the progress made in this area.