The Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils- Looked After Children

Services to Schools Service Level Agreement The Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils- Looked After Children

Document Version: Version1

Date: November 2015

Completed by: Emma Rutherford Service Level Agreement 1. The Service Level Agreement

This document is a formal agreement and is intended to set out the service provided, how provision will be managed and monitored, and the ongoing relationship between the parties.

This agreement commences on the 1st day of April 2016 until 31st March 2017 (unless you are an academy when the contract will run from 1st day of September 2016 until 31st day of August 2017 in order to align with the academic year) and is between: a) Hartlepool Borough Council of Civic Centre, Victoria Road, Hartlepool, TS26 8AY and; b) Name of School, school address

2. Service Provider

Education Division of Hartlepool Borough Council and its approved, trained and contracted specialist external consultants.

3. Services in Scope

The Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils from the local authority will support the educational achievement and aspirations of Children Looked After (CLA) through the following duties :

 Ensure that all CLA have a full time education which meets their individual needs

 Take into account the child’s views in identifying and meeting their educational needs

 Support school admissions of CLA to ensure that they are given priority in preference to other children in the over-subscription criteria in their admission arrangements

 Identify educational needs as part of the assessment process and ensure that these are reflected in the Care and Placement plans

 Ensure that all CLA have an effective, high quality Personal Education Plan (PEP)

2  Ensure that the actions and activities recorded in the PEP are acted upon

 Ensure that a relevant local authority representative attends parents’ evening and other relevant meetings such as the annual review of statement of special educational needs/ Education, Health and Care plan

 Mediate on behalf of CLA when they face difficulties in school

 Ensure that social workers, foster carers and, where appropriate , parents actively promote opportunities for CLA to participate in high quality learning experiences, including out of school hours learning activities

 Ensure that care placements are able to support the child’s educational needs and aspirations

 Support CLA with transitions to further education, employment and training

 Ensure that schools and their governing bodies are aware of the duty on local authorities to promote to the education of CLA (Section 52 Children Act 2004)

 Support the role of designated teacher for CLA

 Ensure where a CLA attends school, that the designated teacher is aware that the child is looked after and has an up to date copy of the PEP

 Provide suitable training covering all aspects of the care system

 Monitor and track outcomes for CLA

 Ensure effective use of Pupil Premium Plus to improve outcomes for CLA

All services provided are statutory and therefore are non chargeable

4. Service Delivery

The Local Authority is committed to offering high quality support and challenge to its schools through the Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils’ Service Level Agreement.

3 The Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils comprises of the Virtual Head Teacher for Vulnerable Pupils, an Education Officer and a Teaching Assistant (English as an additional language).

Hartlepool currently has 270 CLA which the Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils supports.

We work with schools in relation to individual children and the issues facing CLA.

5. Performance Monitoring

The Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils is monitored by the Assistant Director (Education) and the Assistant Director (Children’s Services).

The Virtual School is held to account by a number of council committees including Children’s Services Committee and Corporate Parent Forum.

6. Charges and Costs

There is no charge in relation to the work of The Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils associated with CLA. All services are statutory.

7. Conflict Resolution

Concerns regarding service delivery should be reported in the first instance to the Virtual School Head Teacher, who will attempt to resolve the issue.

If the issue cannot be resolved at this stage, then the Assistant Director (Education) will take up the matter.

Final arbitration of disputes would be by the Chief Executive or a representative.

8. Termination/Cancellations

Variations or termination of the Service level Agreement must be discussed and agreed by all parties.

9. Confidentiality

School and pupil level data will be shared securely between The Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils personnel and the school, and according to established Hartlepool Borough Council protocols.

4 School and pupil level data may be shared by The Virtual School for Vulnerable Pupils, or by the school, with Hartlepool Borough Council employees by agreement.

10. Summary of Responsibilities

Core Responsibility Hartlepool Borough School (NAME) Council Communication Emma Rutherford Data Kay Forgie << name >> (national benchmarks) (school and pupil level)

11. Key Contacts

Company Hartlepool Borough Council The School (NAME) Contact Name Emma Rutherford e-mail [email protected] Telephone (01429) 284370 Address Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Brierton Lane, Hartelpool

12. Signatures and Approval

Signed on Behalf of Post Date Hartlepool Borough Council

Signed on Behalf of……. Post Date