How to use your Virtual School

For adopted young people, Virtual Schools provide tailored educational support to help them thrive in school. Here’s what they typically do:

Promote educational achievement

They ensure that adopted children have the right support to succeed academically by:

• Monitoring progress and attainment
• Liaising with schools to offer advice and challenge when needed
• Helping implement Personal Education Plans (PEPs) (primarily for looked-after children, but they may still support adopted pupils if needed)

Training and support for schools

They help schools understand the impact of early trauma, loss, and attachment issues on learning and behaviour by offering:

• Teacher training
• Advice on creating trauma-informed, attachment-aware environments

Pupil Premium Plus (PP+)

Adopted children are eligible for Pupil Premium Plus funding (around £2,410 per year in England), which schools can use to support their education. The Virtual School helps ensure this funding is used effectively. Find out more.

Advocacy and advice for families

Virtual Schools offer advice to adoptive parents, social workers, and schools about how to support adopted children’s learning and emotional well-being.

Access to enrichment and interventions

They may organise or signpost:

• Tutoring or academic interventions
• Social and emotional learning programs
• Trips, clubs, or mentoring to build confidence and engagement