• Services and Support
• Looked-after children

Looked After Children

The REACH Team, Virtual School for Children Looked After
The REACH Team is a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team that delivers the services of the Virtual School for Children Looked After (CLA) based within the Children Looked After Service. The team aims to raise the educational attainment and aspirations of children and young people who are looked after to Islington; including those educated outside of the borough or young people in care to other local authorities attending an Islington school.

The REACH Team track and monitor the educational progress of all statutory school age children looked after to Islington and provides training, advice, guidance and support to Islington schools Children’s Social Care Service, young people, foster carers and other professionals and Corporate Parents to improve the educational outcomes of children who are looked after to Islington.

The REACH Team will:
• Work in active partnership with Islington schools, other agencies and services to ensure that Islington Children Looked After receive their core mainstream offer.
• Track and monitor the educational progress of children looked after to Islington’s Children’s Social Care Service and hold their educational data and history.
• Monitor the Personal Education Plan (PEP) and ensure its quality and effectiveness.
• Monitor and support the attendance of children looked after, including specific support for schools, carers and young people around exclusions.
• Promote continuity and stability of education, specifically when young people experience changes in their care placements and at transition points in their education.
• Provide additional and personalised packages of support, including access to mentoring and enrichment activities.
• Celebrate the achievements of children looked after.
• Coordinate and deliver training for Corporate Parents.
• Provide support, advice and guidance to teachers, carers, social workers and parents on developments on the education of children looked after.

All Islington schools have a named REACH Team contact and receive regular information and news through

'REACH Out!'

The REACH Team Leaflet
A leaflet describing the work of the REACH Team.

Education Outcomes
A summary report for 2007/08 is provided on the educational outcomes of Islington’s children looked after over a number of years.

Exciting News!

The REACH Team is now forming a Virtual School for Children Looked After to Islington.  We are in the process of setting up the Virtual School to raise the educational attainment and aspirations of all our young people.  Download our priorities for 2008/09, our new structure chart and our tracking funding policy.

For further information contact: 

Hermione Michaud
Head teacher of the Virtual School for CLA
Cambridge Education @ Islington
Lough Road
London N7 8RH
Tel: 020 7527 5972
Email:  hermione.michaud.camb-ed@islington.gov.uk

Or, email us at TheReachTeam.camb-ed@islington.gov.uk