14 Oct 2010, Central London
The Role of the Virtual School: in Aiding Transitions into Further Education, Employment and Training: Best Practice and Future Policy Developments
Transitions from leaving care into independent, adult living can often be a problematic and traumatic process. There is no doubt that providing looked after children a first class education can ease this transition and ensure children and young people receive the best chance in life to reach their full potential. The Virtual School has played a key role in raising the educational attainment of looked after children but should this service be extended to support care leavers and other vulnerable groups? Can the Virtual School aid transitions to ensure care leavers are in further education, employment or training?
This unique one day conference will explore the future role of the Virtual School in aiding successful transitions into adulthood. Through examples of best practice from throughout the country, delegates will have the opportunity to hear from our own trailblazing local authorities, Connexions teams, academics and Government bodies. Alongside hearing from sector experts, delegates will be provided with a healthy exchange of ideas, networking and lots of participation!
Key learning points:
- Explore the role of the Virtual School in aiding the transition into further education for care leavers
- Evaluate the success of the Virtual School in improving educational outcomes for care leavers
- Assess the role of the Virtual School in aiding the transition from Care2Work
- Aiscuss the potential for Connexions services in working with leaving care teams to raise the aspirations of care leavers
- Look to the potential of extra-curricular activities in aiding transitions
- Explore the role universities can play in supporting care leavers through university
- Assess ways in which foster carers can be supported to aid transitions
- Explore best practice from across the country in raising educational attainment of looked-after children and care leavers
- Explore the statutory obligations placed on a Virtual School post 16
- Hear first hand the challenges facing care leavers within the education system
Target audience
- Lead members for children’s services
- Directors & senior managers in children’s services
- Directors of education
- Heads of children’s strategy
- Leaving care teams
- Education advisors
- Residential social workers
- Social inclusion managers
- Service managers
- Opinion formers & the media
- Education & social care teams
- Representatives from children’s charities
- Representatives from children’s homes
- Virtual School Heads
- Designated teachers
- Connexions staff
Geoff Whitty
Director, Institute of Education
Professor David Berridge
Head of Centre for Family Policy and Child Welfare, University of Bristol
Chris Fowler
Virtual School Head, Lincolnshire
Geeta Uppal
Community and Adult Learning Co-ordinator, We Care Partnership
Linda Thompson
Virtual School Head
Mitesh Vagadia
Personal Advisor for Care Leavers, Hertfordshire
Chair ’s Opening Remarks
Chair Geoff Whitty Director Institute of Education
Young Co-Chair Conor Brennan
Achieving Educationally and Realising Potential: Transitions from Care to Further Education
Nick Gibb, Minister of State for Schools (Invited)
The Role of the Virtual School in Further Education: Evaluation of the Virtual School Head Pilot
Professor David Berridge Head of Centre for Family Policy and Child Welfare, University of Bristol
The Future of Transitions from Education to Employment: The Link Between Virtual Schools and Care2Work Initiatives
The Future Role Virtual Schools Will Play in Aiding Transitions
Kevin Woods Department for Education (Invited)
Workshops
The Transition Plan - The role of Connexions
Bristol Connexions
Extra-curricula Activities Aiding Transitions
The Role of Universities in Aiding Transitions into Higher Education
Geeta Uppal Community and Adult Learning Co-ordinator, We Care Partnership
The Role of Foster Carers in Aiding Transitions
Panel Debate: What More Can Virtual Schools be Doing to Ease Transition?
Morning Speakers
Best Practice Managing the Transition to Increase University Admissions
Linda Thompson Virtual School Head
Effective Partnerships- Virtual Schools Cohesively Working with Leaving Care Services to Raise Educational Aspirations for Care Leavers
The Role of Personal Advisors in Supporting Young People Leaving Care and Aiming Higher
Mitesh Vagadia Personal Advisor for Care Leavers, Hertfordshire
The Use of PEPs in Further Education
My Transitional Experience
Keighley Simpson Care Leaver
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Chair Geoff Whitty Director Institute of Education
Young Co-Chair Conor Brennan
It is vital for us at Care Matters Partnership that we offer a first class delegate experience. This extends beyond the training itself to ensuring that the whole experiences, from setting off in the morning, through to networking
Hotel Booking Service
Care Matters Partnership is dedicated to sourcing affordable hotel accommodation for all our conferences. Should you wish to take advantage of this service please call 020 7384 2365 or email booking@carematterspartnership.co.uk.
Taxi Booking Service
Care Matters Partnership acknowledges that for those travelling further afield it can be problematic to organise and source transport ahead of time. We will ensure that our venues either provide a concierge service or our registration staff will book a taxi to your requirements
Mobile Phone Charging
It is often very difficult to completely shut off from work pressures while attending a conference. It is often necessary to take time out to make calls and check emails. To ensure you have access, Care Matters Partnership offers a phone charging service at the registration desk at all conferences
Internet Access
Care Matters Partnership accepts that, breaks are often a key time at conferences to check emails and send important documents. We will therefore endeavour to offer delegates access to computers with internet.
Supported Attendance
Care Matters Partnership acknowledges that we are living through public spending cuts and hard economic times. We are therefore always open to discuss reduced attendance at our events for charities with less than 10 staff or for organisations looking to send more than one delegate. Should you wish to discuss a reduced place please call 020 3393 7394 or email bookings@carematterspartnership.co.uk.
Any Special Requirements
Care Matters Partnership ensures that all conference venues we use cater for disabled delegates or delegates with special dietary requirements. To ensure that we can meet all your requirements and ensure that your day is pleasurable and informative please do let us know what we can do to help. Please call 020 7384 2365 or email bookings@carematterspartnership.co.uk.
Feedback
We are always looking for ways in which we can improve the service we provide. Should you have any feedback from an event you attended, our literature, publications or website please do call 020 3393 7394.
We pride ourselves on delivering the lowest cost and highest quality conferences in the sector. Our conferences all start at £99 for bookings made within the first month of publishing and £149 after that. No time limit, no differences in price for the independent sector and no compromising of quality. Click on the following links to find out how we are doing this: