The Virtual School Model pilot programme has helped to address the needs of children looked after and support their educational progress an independent evaluation has found.

Virtual Schools are not physical buildings or classrooms that learners attend. Instead, they are specialist teams that work alongside a learner’s actual school to support their education.

These teams work closely with social workers, carers, and schools to address the unique barriers that care experienced young people often face, such as placement moves, trauma or gaps in their education.

By providing dedicated oversight and support, Virtual Schools help to ensure that care experienced learners have consistent educational advocacy regardless of where they live or which school they attend, helping to improve their educational outcomes.

The Virtual School Head, or equivalent head role, plays a key role in the Virtual School, ensuring that arrangements are in place to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of children in their local authority, including those placed out of county.

The Welsh Government provided a total of £1.24m to local authorities between 2021 and 2024 to run the pilot as part of our commitment to improving educational outcomes for care experienced learners.

An independent evaluation of the Virtual School Model pilot (published 17th December) identified a range of positive impacts across Local Authorities that accessed the funding including enhanced integration between teams supporting care experienced learners and more preventative provision.

The review’s findings and learning from the pilot will be used to shape work to ensure care experienced learners in Wales have the support they need in their education to thrive.

Wales’ Cabinet Secretary for Education, Lynne Neagle said: “I have seen first-hand how this support is making a real difference to learner’s lives and how they have supported schools and school staff to support each young person, considering their individual backgrounds, experiences, and needs.

"Care experienced learners can face difficult times that affect their learning. This review shows we are making good progress in helping them, and I look forward to building on this work to make sure all care experienced learners in Wales get the support they need to reach their full potential."