Enrichment and additional support offer

Norfolk Virtual School is very lucky to be part of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program which is offered to all our children in care aged 0-5. This fully funded book gifting program posts out free high-quality books each month. We have already been able to send out 2000 books since we launched in January 2020. These books belong to the child for life, and upon 'graduation' at the age of 5 or when they leave care. The scheme has now been expanded to include children in care that have recently been adopted and GRT 0-5 year olds. This bring our total to around 300 children that are receiving a book every month until the age of 5.

Virtual School Book Club

The Virtual School book club will runs over the period of a term. Each term a different author and book is selected. The children will receive a short film by the author inviting them to join the book club and then a signed copy of the book if they decide to join. They will receive a letter and some activities related to the book. The children can read the book at their own pace, with/ without support of their carers with no expectation of when it must be completed (or even completed).

We hope that providing an opportunity to meet with the author will excite the children, and that the activities and letters will lead to great engagement.

Waterstones Giving Tree

Every year leading up to Christmas, Norfolk Virtual School and Waterstones team up to launch the Giving Tree appeal. This is a Christmas project aimed at bringing the joy of books and reading to the county's children in care. 2024 was the 18th year we have run the appeal and every young person in care aged between 2 - 18 received a book.

Additional Support Offer

The Virtual School additional support offer is available to children in care, carers and teachers with the objective of supporting the improvement of educational outcomes.

We have a tiered additional support offer.

For further details or for a discussion around this please email Hannah Collison Smith at h.collisonsmith@norfolk.gov.uk.

Universal offer

Our Universal Offer includes the following.

Maths Whizz: A virtual maths tuition programme with interactive avatars for primary children.
Schools online: A revision tool for Years 6 and 11.
Reading Plus: An adaptive, online reading development programme. With a readability range from Year 2 to beyond GCSE, it serves the needs of a wide range of students.
Storytime subscription: Magazine subscriptions for our Year 2 children. Each issue includes fairy tales, new and classic stories, awesome animals, myths, legends, gorgeous illustrations, puzzles and games.
Virtual School book club: The Virtual School termly book club is focused on Years 4-6. Children will receive a book along with a recorded message and signed book from the author of the term alongside some activities.
Beacon House training: Training for staff supporting children in care to help build emotional regulation skills.
Access to Pupil premium Plus funding: Money allocated to schools to support the academic achievements of children in care.
Play and Discover bags: An Early Years new-to-care resource bag tailored by age for children in care.

Targeted offer

Our Targeted Offer includes the following.

Catch up Literacy: This is a structured one-to-one intervention for those children who are working at least one year below their chronological age in reading. This training is delivered to carers so they can then use it at home.
English workshops: Petxi deliver several group workshops over the year to our target groups of children with a focus on grammar, inference, retrieval, and writing.
Petxi 1 to 1 online tuition: Petxi tutors deliver online tuition in English and maths to children in Years 5, 6, 10 and 11 who are not making expected progress.

Bespoke offer

Our Bespoke Offer includes the following.

Watch Me Play: An Early Years intervention to promote child-led play, enhance relationships, and create a better understanding of each child's strengths and needs. (EY)
Specialist Support Officer: A Virtual School team member who can support KS4 young people. This can include mentoring, information, advice and guidance, support with Functional Skills and ASDAN.
Petxi 1 to 1 tuition: 1:1 and small group tuition for those not on track with projected outcomes in English and/or maths.

Pupil Voice

Norfolk In Care Council (NICC)

The Virtual School is invited to attend the different NICC group sessions to gain input from young people on issues that affect them. The Virtual School have been invited to attend the Under 12's group, the NICC group and the Young Adults Forum.

Resources

The Anna Freud website provides valuable resources to aid the better understanding of mental health conditions
The Virtual School provides information on Personal education plans (PEPs)
The Norfolk County Council website provides information on Pupil Premium funding for children in care
Libraries for looked after children - Norfolk County Council provides information about the library service and how it supports children in care
Reading tips and advice for families and schools from the BookTrust is a useful website for tips and advice about how to read with children