Virtual school head role extension to children with a social worker
How local authorities should extend the virtual school head role to champion children with a social worker and promote their education.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
From September 2021, virtual school heads will be strategic leaders who promote the educational outcomes of children with a social worker.
The guidance on promoting the education of children with a social worker:
- defines the cohort of children in scope
- explains what the extended role involves
- provides direction on how to partner with education settings to improve children’s outcomes
The grant determination letterletters setsset out the terms of the section 31 grant that local authorities will receive to support the change in role.
The memorandum of understanding describes the expectations of the Department for Education and the local authority delivering the change in role.
Statutory guidance on promoting the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children is also available.
Last updated
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Added ‘Virtual school head role extension: grant determination letter 2023 to 2024’. Updated the memorandum of understanding for 2023 to 2024.
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We have updated the 'Promoting the education of children with a social worker: virtual school head role extension' guidance, 'Virtual school head role extension: grant determination letter' and the 'Virtual school head role extension: memorandum of understanding'.
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Grant determination letter has been updated with funding allocations for North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. Removed information about local authorities returning the memorandum of understanding by 31 July 2021 as the deadline has now passed.
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First published.
Update history
2025-09-02 16:14
Added ‘Memorandum of understanding between the Department for Education and local authority’, ‘Memorandum of understanding authorisation’ and ‘Financial progress report’.
2025-07-17 16:05
Added ‘Virtual school head role extension: grant determination letter 2025 to 2026’.
2024-03-05 12:00
Updated the grant determination letter and memorandum of understanding to support the extension of the virtual school head role to children with a social worker and children in kinship care from September 2024. National funding for 2024 to 2025 has been uplifted to £20.4 million across all local authorities.
2023-12-15 11:11
Added ‘Promoting the education of children with a social worker and children in kinship care arrangements: virtual school head role extension’. The guidance now includes how virtual school heads should promote the education outcomes of children in kinship care.
2023-06-19 09:30
Added ‘Virtual school head role extension: grant determination letter 2023 to 2024’. Updated the memorandum of understanding for 2023 to 2024.
2022-06-30 09:00
We have updated the ‘Promoting the education of children with a social worker: virtual school head role extension’ guidance, ‘Virtual school head role extension: grant determination letter’ and the ‘Virtual school head role extension: memorandum of understanding’.