Agenda item

The report will update Members on the progress and results for Children in Care at the end of Reception, Key Stages 1, and 2 and 4.

The Committee considered the report on LAC attainment and the report on the   post 16 support of LAC together. As of September 2013 young people leaving Year 11 will be required to remain in Education, Employment or Training (ETE) until the end of the academic year in which they are 17, in 2015 this will increase to 18. Members noted the education and employment pathway being followed by the 53 looked after children at year 12 and also considered the progress and results for Children in Care at the end of Reception, Key Stages1, and 2 and 4, and Haringey’s   Undergraduates/Graduates and new University entrants.

 The key points noted by the Committee were:

·        The Virtual School were continuing to work with young people not achieving good results at key stage 4 and encouraging them to stay on in school.

·        The criteria for attainment at key stage 4 had changed and a level 4 achievement was required in all areas. There was progress in achieving the required level 4 at Maths and English and the Virtual school would look at the progress being made in the previous year to understand the support that was needed to reach level 4 in these required subject areas.

·        Young people in care were being supported at 16+to stay in education and with some young people this meant encouraging re-engagement in education

·        A strong set of GCSE results for Sep 2013, building on the legacy of previous years.  These young people had benefited from additional input during their time in secondary school and have engaged with study club, libraries meetings, events, made use of online revision help through SAM.  Further Examples of the one to one   support was provided to reassure councillors of the quality of the contact being made by the Virtual school with pupils. It was noted that the Virtual school team will, on occasions and work load permitting, make visits to schools outside the borough being attended by LAC as well to understand the progress being made and speak with teachers if needed.

There was a question about whether Looked after Children are at a disadvantage in the Admission process and clarification sought on the support given to get LAC into a preferred choice of school.  It was noted that the LAC will go through the admissions process in their placement borough and there will be support provided by the Virtual School if there are problems with getting a place at the child’s preferred school. In terms of Faith schools, they had their own admissions criteria. Sometimes it could be more difficult to place LAC in schools if they are at key stage 4 and  in this case there would be further negotiation with schools but this was generally not thought to be a significant problem.

The Pupil Premium Plus grant was explained, and as of April there will be £1,900 per LAC for schools to spend money on.  Committee members felt it would be useful to get a future report on how the LAC element of the Pupil Premium Grant is being spent. There were designated teachers in schools responsible for LAC and information on this spend could be ascertained from them

 The Virtual School were commended for their continual work and support to look after children.