Message from Edward Timpson seeing and hearing about something that worked for VSHs but more importantly for MP Children & Families Minister – children. Perhaps some of you have already begun to develop your practice as It is a real pleasure to introduce issue five a result. I look forward to reading about it of the newsletter for Virtual School Heads. in a future VSH newsletter. a range of As usual it’s packed with information and effective practice to reflect The other key document from last year on and use in developing and enhancing was the thematic inspection by Ofsted on the ways in which you support the the impact of the virtual school. The educational aspirations of your looked report describes a mixed picture about the after children. impact of virtual schools: there is These are exciting times for everyone undoubtedly some highly effective practice involved in supporting the education of and some areas where there is more work looked after children. The VSH national to do in order to make the VSH role as conference on 27 March takes place only strong and as effective as it can be. At a couple of weeks after clause 9 of the their best, and where they are backed by a Children and Families Bill (which will make strong corporate parent ethos, virtual VSHs statutory) passed its Commons schools provide very effective support: Committee stage. support that not only makes a difference to educational progress but to their children’s I am proud, as the Minister for Children, to placement stability and emotional be taking that provision through the wellbeing. Commons in order to implement the first of the recommendations in the cross-party Growing up in a house with foster siblings report of the All Party Parliamentary Group I know that the work VSHs are doing is not for Looked After Children and Care easy. But having seen how education can Leavers. I hope that since its publication transform opportunities and lives I also last September you have been discussing know that the investment you and your the recommendations that relate directly to colleagues make in championing and local authority practice with your Directors supporting the education of your children of and Lead Members, Children’s Services is well worth it. as well as with each other. A number of the recommendations were Edward Timpson responding to problems and challenges Minister Children’s identified during the APPG inquiry. In other cases they were as a result of
Message from Edward Timpson MP – Children & Families Minister It is a real pleasure to introduce issue five of the newsletter for Virtual School Heads. As usual it’s packed with a range of information and effective practice to reflect on and use in developing and enhancing the ways in which you support the educational aspirations of your looked after children. These are exciting times for everyone involved in supporting the education of looked after children. The VSH national conference on 27 March takes place only a couple of weeks after clause 9 of the Children and Families Bill (which will make VSHs statutory) passed its Commons Committee stage. I am proud, as the Minister for Children, to be taking that provision through the Commons in order to implement the first of the recommendations in the cross-party report of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Looked After Children and Care Leavers. I hope that since its publication last September you have been discussing the recommendations that relate directly to local authority practice with your Directors of Children’s Services and Lead Members, as well as with each other. A number of the recommendations were responding to problems and challenges identified during the APPG inquiry. In other cases they were as a result of seeing and hearing about something that worked for VSHs but more importantly for children. Perhaps some of you have already begun to develop your practice as a result. I look forward to reading about it in a future VSH newsletter. The other key document from last year was the thematic inspection by Ofsted on the impact of the virtual school. The report describes a mixed picture about the impact of virtual schools: there is undoubtedly some highly effective practice and some areas where there is more work to do in order to make the VSH role as strong and as effective as it can be. At their best, and where they are backed by a strong corporate parent ethos, virtual schools provide very effective support: support that not only makes a difference to children’s educational progress but to their placement stability and emotional wellbeing. Growing up in a house with foster siblings I know that the work VSHs are doing is not easy. But having seen how education can transform opportunities and lives I also know that the investment you and your colleagues make in championing and supporting the education of your children is well worth it. Edward Timpson Children’s Minister
vsh%20newsletter%20spring%202013v2.docx