Professional development opportunities

Designated Teachers and PEP writers

The training events provide you with an opportunity to develop links with the Virtual School and with other Designated Teachers (DT), as we work together to increase the progress Suffolk’s children in care make in school. Even if you currently have no children in care at your school, it is important that you stay up to date with processes and expectations should a child join you.

Ofsted is looking closely at the relationship schools have with the virtual school and information gained at network meetings. It has proven useful to schools during the inspections. Education outcomes for children in care are a priority for Ofsted and inspectors have told us that they will be looking closely at how a school prioritises work with children in care when making inspection judgements.

Our DT network meetings typically take place on a termly basis in each area of the county. The aim of these sessions is to share good practices and updates regarding the education of children in care and to also enable DTs from different schools to establish links and to share experiences that will benefit each other’s work with children in care and children previously looked after.

The network sessions are available to Personal Education Plan (PEP) writers and governors with children in care (CiC) and previously looked after children (PLAC) oversight as well as DTs. 

As part of our rolling programme of virtual DT network meetings, see the information below about our upcoming sessions – our aim with these virtual meetings is to check in with you and for us to offer any guidance and support you might require, for our children in care.

Summer Term 2025

DESTY Goals

Presented by Stephanie Fitzgerald, DESTY founder. Aimed at supporting children aged 11-14 to set and achieve key goals in their lives. 

• Tuesday 20 May  10 - 10.45 a.m.
• Tuesday 20 May  3.45 - 4.30 p.m. 

EPEP check-in    

The purpose of this session is to provide some support with the completion of the ePEP. A best practice approach to how a pupil’s plan can be recorded and evidenced in the document will be the focus.      

• Tuesday 3 June 10 - 10.45 a.m.
• Tuesday 3 June 3.45 - 4.30 p.m.

Attendance of children in care    

The purpose of this session is to go through the attendance of children in care across a wide range of scenarios, including school changes, accessing alternative provision and celebrating good attendance.    

• Tuesday 24 June 10 - 10.45 a.m.
• Tuesday 24 June 3.45 - 4.30 p.m.

Effective use of PPG    

We will be exploring how pupil premium funding can be used to support the academic and personal development outcomes of children in care.      

• Tuesday 8 July 10 - 10.45 a.m.
• Tuesday 8 July 3.45 - 4.30 p.m.

To reserve a place please complete this booking form: Summer 2025 Booking Form 

If you have any queries, please email us on suffolkvirtualschool@suffolk.gov.uk or call 01473 260818.

Online Training Resources

We offer online training packages, free of charge, to DTs. Access to these can be requested from the Virtual School office or via your Virtual School contact.

Recently, we have provided training via Education DESTY. Please also see the resources and links page for more information on online training.