2. DFE/NAVSH workshop Birmingham 19th October 2017
Alan Clifton- Past Chair of NAVSH 2016-’17 and former VSH North Yorkshire
Steve Kethero-Achievement and Disadvantage Unit, DFE.
Alan

3. Pupil Premium Plus – What is it adding?
How do Local authorities make the most of the additional funding provided by government for the education of the looked after children in their care?

4. A Plea
The PP plus for looked after children is due to be increased to £2300 per eligible child- this is to be welcomed.
NAVSH has strongly recommended that there should be the opportunity to carry over funding to a new financial.
However, as this arrangement is not currently in place please do not return funds to the DFE that can make a difference to the lives and outcomes of looked after children

5. Pupil Premium Plus who is it for?
Children in Care
During the previous year, one day or more £2300 to VSH
Post Care
Adopted, SGO, Child arrangements order, or Residence order
Self declaration by parent, reported on the January census -£2300 straight to schools
These are children whose childhoods have not been like most other children’s... It tells us little to only compare this group of children with children whose lives have been happy and secure.
Ofsted Annual Social Care Report 2016

6. Allocation of Pupil Premium Plus
“The LAC premium must be managed by the VSH and used for the benefit of the looked after child’s educational needs, as described in their Personal Education Plan.”
“Depending on the circumstances the VSH can either:
Pass on the full amount
Pass on less than the full amount
Pass on more than the full amount”
“VSHs can pool some pupil premium or EYPP to fund activities that will benefit a group of or all of the authority’s looked-after children.”

7. Why don’t all VSH devolve funding to schools in the same way?
Like school head teachers VSH know their cohort and locality challenges. All schools don’t utilise the same strategies to meet the needs of the children on their roll.
Alternative provision, cross border protocols, meeting the needs of those awaiting a school place, post 16 transition and unaccompanied asylum seeking children are just some examples of why funding might be retained.

8. The importance of local authority guidance
All Virtual Schools should provide guidance and good practice for schools where their looked after children are placed.
Examples are available today from:
North Yorkshire; North Tyneside; Staffordshire; Royal Borough of Greenwich; Torbay. A special mention to Derbyshire runners up in the National PP plus awards

9. What is the minimum a local authority policy should cover?
Distribution of funding – eligibility, amount, expectations.
How the impact of PP plus will be monitored
Cross border arrangements
Examples of good practice –academic & emotional support interventions
Links to further published guidance
Early Years funding

10. Amount devolved directly to schools ( NAVSH survey results)

11. What is funding retained by VSHs spent on?

12. How is impact measured?

13. Factors influencing the educational outcomes of children in care
Time in care – longer in care, better the outcomes
Age entering care – before age 11...
Placement changes – fewer changes...
School changes – fewer changes...
School absence – less absence...
School exclusions – less exclusions...
Placement type – foster care...
School type – mainstream...
SEND – none, although if SEND then SEMH better outcomes.
SDQs (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires) – lower score...
For more information see the full Rees Centre / Bristol University Report ‘The Educational Progress of Looked After Children’.

14. Impact of moves on attainment

15. Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing
Use of PP plus to address Mental Health Need
Impact of loss and trauma-
Attachment training
Counselling
Theraplay
Lego Therapy
Drawing and Talking

16. Pupil Premium Plus What is it adding?
+ Bespoke packages of support to meet individual needs.
+ Partnership working – with VSHs and parents / carers.
+ An improvement in outcomes.

17. What have children in care said?
Refer to local authority guidance
Torbay DVD
Further references around trauma and attachment
Sunderland University CEL&T online courses:
NAHT / Adoption UK Attachment flyer