Supporting Transition from Key Stage 4 into Key Stage 5
November 2016
Rachel Calver
Post 16 Assistant Head
Virtual School Kent
Workshop Objectives
This workshop will explore how VSK works in partnership with
key agencies to support transition into Key Stage 5 through:
• Training offered to professionals
• Promotion of post 16 options
• Allocating young people to VSK staff
• Working with LA teams
• Success and areas to develop
• Transition policy and development
Transition
What makes a successful transition into key stage 5?
What does a ‘good transition’ look like to you??
Virtual School Kent
Who are we and what do we do??
• The Virtual School acts as a local authority champion to support improvements
in the education of Children in Care (CiC) and Young Care Leavers (YCL) and to
promote their educational achievement as if they were in a single school.
• As of January 2015, Kent extends to Key Stage 5 (16-18yrs)
• Made up of:
o Head Teacher and 3 Deputy Heads
o 7 Assistant Heads covering locality areas and OLA
o Assistant Head for Post 16 – across county
o Support Officers
o Year 11 Progression Support Officers
o Fostering Liaison Officers and Education Welfare Officers
o Admin/Data and Nurses
o Participation and Engagement Team
• Social Worker structure change – now a 0-18yrs service and then separate 18+
service
VSK – Locality Team
Assistant
Head
Deputy
Head
Nurses
Yr11
Progression
Support
Officers
CHILDREN
IN CARE
&
CARE
LEAVERS
Support
Officers
Participation
Apprentice
For contact names, please visit
virtualschool.lea.kent.sch.uk
Fostering
Education
Liaison Officer
Educational
Welfare
Officer
VSK – Post 16 Team
Assistant
Head
Deputy
Head
Support
Officers
Data Post
&
Admin Post
Participation
Apprentice
Current picture….
Kent – 2374 as of July 2016
• 69% male
• 377 were in year 11
• 1087 in year 12&13
• of which 678 were UASC
•
12.45% achieving 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths
(Summer 2015 – was 8% in 2014 due to first sit of exam
counting)
•
Compared to non Looked After Children 58% (2014)
•
Oct 2016 – 947 post 16, of which 603 UASC
VSK Staff Support
Year 11 Progression Support Officer
• Allocated to each year 11 young person to support onward planning,
attend PEPs, liaise with providers, SEN and Foster Carers
Post 16 Support Officers
• All young people allocated to a VSK member of staff to track, monitor
and support into EET, once in EET working closely with Colleges,
Training providers, CIC teams and 18+ team to provide support
Work together, meet regularly to discuss cases and support transition
process
Identify early those young people that will need more
visits/planning/tasters events before making post 16 choices
New 18+ Support Officer due to start shortly
VSK Resources
Transition Policy
• Recently developed to include all resources
• Shows collaboration between LA teams (SEN, YOT, S&E)
• Presented to all managers in directorate to ensure all aware
• Flow charts of NEET and preventative work
EPEP
• All electronic and includes post 16
• 14-19 transition section
• Post 16 Application questions
Transition year calendar
• Developed with Year 11 and Post 16 VSK staff to plan the years cycle
VSK website, Post 16 Bulletin, Facebook, Twitter, Fostering Newsletter
Other links
Designated Member of Staff
• Similar to the DT, all Kent and Medway Colleges and Universities have a
DMS
• VSK work very closely with them – each provider has a VSK rep
• Supporting transition, PEPs, Bursary, progression, NEET
• 3 meetings for all of DMS to come together to share best practice and
raise concerns and a new separate HE DMS meeting group
• CLPP network
District Offer
• Local Authority have developed 2 websites specifically for Kent https://www.readytoworkkent.co.uk/ and http://www.apprenticeshipkent.com/
• Monthly area NEET-to-EET forum meetings bringing together providers
and key teams working with vulnerable groups - held in the youth
hubs
Training
Understanding the Post1 6 Sector training
• Delivered annually to Foster Carers
• Has been delivered to VSK staff and Social Workers
• Plans to deliver it to IROs
Working with CIC/CL training
• Delivered to new Designated Members of Staff
• Available for new training providers
Social Work Students
• Delivered in collaboration with Medway Virtual School to students
around the importance of PEPs and their role as Social Worker
Sharing your best practice?
What barriers can you see?
Celebrating success
VSK Award Ceremonies
• Annually through nominations
• Separate ceremony for Key Stage 4
and below held in September
• Separate ceremony for Key Stage 5
and above held in October to coincide
with National Care Leaver week
Areas to develop
• Transition section on VSK website
• DMS Charter
• Progression Agreement
• Links with 18+ Service
• SEN collaboration
Anything to add???
Anything to add??
Any other questions??
Thank you for participating…..…
Rachel Calver
[email protected]