Issue - meetings

Members to consider  information on the progress and results for Children in Care at the end of Reception, Key Stages 1, and 2 and 4.

The Head of the Virtual School introduced the report which reported on the progress and results for Children in Care at the end of Reception, Key Stages 1 and 2 and 4, Undergraduates and graduates and new university entrants.   The Head of the Virtual School had also invited John Lewis, the Head of Highgate School and the lead for the Chrysalis Accelerator Intervention programme for Looked after Children along with Alex White Community Development Manager at Tottenham Hotspur to talk about their work with Looked after Children and young people.

The Virtual School consisted of a head teacher, a small number of teachers and an Education Welfare officer.  The development of the Virtual school     had arisen in respond and changes the low levels of aspiration being seen in young people in care and also of their carers working with them.  The progress set out in the attached report was a summary of the work of the Virtual school team over the past 12 months. It was important to note that the Virtual school was driven by policy and research to help plan and develop children and young peoples learning and respond to their different circumstances.

 John Lewis, Head of Highgate Independent school, addressed the meeting   and spoke about the work of the Chrysalis Accelerator Programme for looked after children an intervention programme which had been co-developed by Highgate School and Future Foundation in partnership with the virtual heads of Enfield, Barnet and Camden to raise aspirations, attainment and confidence leading to successful applications to higher education and into work.  The committee learned about the ethos, aims and   what was hoped to be achieved with young people. The programme started for young people from year 6 and supported them through to year 10. They were also invited to summer school at Highgate School.  During the programme   there were  initiatives to develop  confidence , support  young people’s transitions periods in their  teenage age years, promote the benefit of extracurricular activities, improve skills in numeric and literacy, support self development  and  personal responsibility for  learning. The Virtual school was essential in facilitating the attendance of children and young people at the events organised by Chrysalis. At a   recent event at Highgate School, there were 4 young people attending from Haringey out of 25. This was a significant achievement keeping in mind that this is an area and environment which the young people will not be used to.

The committee commended the work of the project and felt this was a key initiative to be part of, as a council, to support raising the achievement and aspiration of young people in care.  The committee voiced their commitment and support to the project and endorsed its aims and development.

 The Chair invited Alex White, Community Development manager at Tottenham Hotspur Foundation to speak about the eighteen projects, aimed at providing 121 mentoring support and signposting for identified young people in care and care leavers living in Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 189