Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services relative to an update on the Virtual School for Looked After Children.

Members were pleased to see that the newly arrived young people were enjoying the tuition group, and that the partnership with City of London Schools (CLS) was off to a good start. Members asked how the impact of this tuition group and enrichment programme on the young people would be measured?

The Director noted that it was difficult to measure quality. In terms of quantity, attendance is high and the feedback from the school has been positive.

Noting the need for £10,000 to run this programme again next year, Members asked if the tuition group would be required if the National Transfer Scheme (NTS) issues are addressed by then. Furthermore, if there continued to be high number of Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) coming into care, what would be the financial, education and care consequences of not running the programme again?

The Director noted that the programme was expensive, but still less expensive than individual home tuition. The Director would produce a business case for funding to continue the programme.

RESOLVED – that, the report be received and its content noted.