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 have 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. 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, please 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.

Designated Teacher Award, Championing Children in Care

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Designated Teacher Award, Championing Children in Care. This unique, fully online postgraduate CPD programme is open to anyone interested in exploring and deepening their understanding of how to support children and young people with care experience. Developed in a collaboration between the University of Suffolk and Suffolk County Council’s Virtual School and Psychology and Therapeutic Services. For more information, please see our Designated Teacher Award postgraduate programme.

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.