Celebrating Partnership and Progress: Join Welfare Call at Wonde Discover, BETT 2026
Since 2020, Welfare Call’s partnership with Wonde has helped transform how Virtual School Heads collect and act on attendance data. What began as an innovative step forward has become a vital hybrid model for safeguarding, inclusion, and improved outcomes. This January, we’re proud to take that partnership further, joining Wonde on the Wonde Discover stand […]
Coming Together for Our Community: Supporting Barnsley Foodbank This Christmas
At Welfare Call, we’re proud to be based in Barnsley, and even prouder to play a small part in supporting the community around us. Today, two carloads of donations from our staff were delivered to the Barnsley Foodbank, just in time for the festive season. From long-life staples to Christmas treats, our team came together […]
ARC 2025 Conference Reflections: Inclusion Needs More Than Good Intentions – It Needs Infrastructure
This year’s ARC 2025 Annual Conference brought together hundreds of professionals from education, all united by a single goal: to build systems where every child belongs. With a theme of “Relational Approaches, Inclusion and Belonging: Myth, Necessity or Achievable Reality?”, the event created space for both critical reflection and practical insight. Conversations in sessions and […]
How Barnsley Virtual School Uses Welfare Call to Drive Data-Led Support for Vulnerable Learners
A case study with Tom, Virtual Headteacher for Looked After Children and Vulnerable Groups At Barnsley Virtual School, ensuring every child receives the support they need at the right time is at the heart of everything they do. With growing demands, complex needs, and the pressure to deliver measurable outcomes, they needed a way […]
Raising the Standard: How Cyber Essentials Plus Protects Local Authority and Virtual School Data
We’re pleased to confirm that Welfare Call has once again achieved the Cyber Essentials Plus certification – the highest level of assurance within the government-backed Cyber Essentials framework. This isn’t just another annual tick-box exercise. It’s a clear sign of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards in data security, privacy, and resilience for […]
What the 2025–26 Grant Letter Tells Us About the Future of the Virtual School Head Role
The Department for Education has now published its 2025–2026 grant determination letter for the extended Virtual School Head (VSH) role. This update confirms continued investment in both the Children With a Social Worker (CWSW) and Kinship Care strands, with specific allocations now available by Local Authority. It’s a moment of clarity and opportunity for the […]
Five Years Strong: How Our Partnership with Wonde Is Powering Better Attendance Monitoring for Virtual Schools
At Welfare Call, our mission has always been clear: support Virtual Schools and Local Authorities to safeguard vulnerable children and improve outcomes. A core part of that mission is ensuring the data we collect is accurate, secure, and timely because when it comes to attendance and exclusions, insight needs to lead to action. That’s why we’re […]
Making Every Pound Count: How Welfare Call’s ePEP Optimises Pupil Premium Plus Funding
Virtual School Heads play a vital role in ensuring that looked-after children (CLA) achieve the best possible educational outcomes. A key tool in this effort is Pupil Premium Plus (PP+), funding designed to provide additional support and close the attainment gap for these vulnerable young people. But effectively tracking, measuring, and evidencing the impact of […]
Protecting the Sector: Why Free Use of the Term “ePEP” Matters for Virtual Schools
At Welfare Call, our mission has always been to support Virtual Schools and Local Authorities in delivering the best outcomes for looked-after children. That’s why, when the term “ePEP” – a widely recognised and vital part of our shared language – became trademark-restricted by a single private supplier, we knew we had to act. I’m […]
Championing Education for Looked-After Children: Welfare Call at the NAVSH Annual Conference 2025
We’re pleased to announce that Welfare Call will be attending and exhibiting at the NAVSH annual conference once again this year. The role of Virtual School Heads (VSHs) has evolved significantly over the last decade, becoming one of the most vital leadership positions in education and children’s services. VSHs work relentlessly to ensure that looked-after […]