Harrow Virtual School for: Children with a Social Worker (CWSW)

Harrow Virtual School for Children With a Social Worker (CWSW)

In September 2021 the role of Virtual Schools across the country was extended to include all children with a social worker.

The Virtual School aims to narrow the gap for some of the most vulnerable children in our local authority. Previously, this referred to children looked after and those on a special guardianship order. However it now includes all school children on a child protection plan,  a child in need plan and, from September 2024, children under kinship arrangements. These children are referred to as children with a social worker or CWSW.

What the Virtual School aims to do to support Harrow’s CWSW

The national priorities

Virtual Schools will:

  • make visible the disadvantages that children with a social worker can experience, enhancing partnerships between education settings and local authorities to help all agencies hold high aspirations for these children. 
  • promote practice that supports children’s engagement in education. To recognise that attending an education setting can be an important factor in helping to keep children safe from harm. 
  • level up children’s outcomes and narrow the attainment gap, so that every child can reach their potential. This includes helping to make sure that children with a social worker benefit from support to recover from the impact of  COVID-19. 

Our local priorities

  • Quality assure the support given to CWSW in Harrow schools.
  • Strengthen the partnership between social care and schools to ensure the better communication, quicker responses and the effective sharing of information.
  • Ensure that all CWSW young people have regular opportunities to extend and enhance their learning during and outside the school day.
  • Ensure all CWSW pupils achieve their potential and make at least the expected progress in reading, writing and maths.
  • Empower social care colleagues to hold schools to account in regard to pupil behaviour, attendance, attainment, curriculum and the quality of their  support.
  • Increase the percentage of schools that achieve Achievement Champion status.
  • Ensure that all CWSW have the opportunity for someone to advocate for them in decision-making and in identifying the kind of support they may want and need.