

Virtual School early years
In the Worcestershire Virtual School team there are two people supporting Children Looked After (CLA) within the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Sara Haigh supports 2, 3 and 4 year olds and deferred school entry children in Private, Voluntary and Independent Early Years settings who are looked after both within Worcestershire and those placed out of county.
Becky James supports children in their Reception year in school within Worcestershire and out of county.
All children who are looked after must have a Personal Education Plan (PEP) which is reviewed 3 times a year. The PEP forms part of the child’s statutory Care Plan.
Sara and Becky will facilitate the PEP process and in partnership with early years providers and social workers are responsible for ensuring every Child Looked After has an up to date Personal Education Plan (PEP) which includes individual educational targets set by the child’s setting.
Sara and Becky will work closely with the Designated Teacher or Practitioner within the setting or school and track progress and monitor the appropriateness of pupil premium usage in relation to impact on outcomes. They also ensure that any barriers to success are challenged, thereby promoting a culture of high aspiration for every individual child in Local Authority care to improve and maximise educational opportunities and outcomes.
Since October 2020 the PEP for 2, 3, and 4 years olds has been done as an electronic form (ePEP) available online through the Welfare Call website via secure access and a password.
Early Years providers will need to complete the EYFS developmental information and child’s voice sections of the ePeP.
Children who are looked after will be eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium (3 and 4 year olds) or the Early Years Pupil Premium Plus (reception children in school). This funding should be used to support the outcomes and activities agreed within the PEP.
Children who have been previously looked after (PLAC) but now have an Adoption Order or a Special Guardianship Order or a Child Arrangement Order are also eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium through the funding portal.
Please go to the Virtual School Information Library where you will find a wealth of information, guidance and links to websites for Early Years settings, Social Workers and Carers providing you with great ideas to support your child or young person
Adopting PACE in Early Years settings training course
Roots Psychology Group working collaboratively with Worcestershire Virtual School invites you to this unique opportunity to understand and implement trauma-informed practice in Early Years Settings.
Here are the training videos ‘exploring a trauma-informed approach utilising the PACE model in Early Years settings presented by Dr Ann Laight and Dr Kate Mason’, video 1: Adopting PACE in Early Years Setting and video 2: Adopted PACE in Early Years Setting: Therapeutic Parenting