Jane Johnson, Virtual School Headteacher for Manchester
The Manchester Virtual School team has been working in partnership with Welfare Call LAC LTD since 2003 to monitor the attendance and attainment of Manchester Looked After Children (LAC). In 2014, following a full tendering exercise, Manchester commissioned the services of Welfare Call to develop and deliver an electronic PEP system for all Manchester LAC. Welfare Call have worked closely and very flexibly with us to develop this tool to ensure it met all our requirements. They have fully supported us with the ePEP implementation for all of our children who are currently placed across 39 different local authorities. They provide highly professional and helpful telephone advice and support to all of the ePEP users. The introduction of the ePEP has resulted in:
- A massive improvement in the quality of communication between social workers, schools carers and the Virtual School.
- A very significant improvement in our PEP completion rates especially for children outside Manchester.
- An immense improvement in the quality of PEPs and the extent to which the child’s needs, strengths and views are evident within their plan.
We have found the ePEP to be a very effective tool for monitoring and tracking the use and impact of pupil premium for every child.
The Manchester Virtual School views its partnership with Welfare Call LAC Ltd to be invaluable in improving the educational experience and outcomes of all Manchester Looked After Children and Young People.
Lorraine Brown, Education Co-Ordinator, Enfield Virtual School
During the last 5 years Welfare Call staff have been most helpful in providing any specific reports as required in a timely fashion. Telephone calls are met with a willingness to help. More than pleased with service and have recently signed a three year contract.
Wendy Holmes, Lead Officer Alternate Provision Attendance for North Lincolnshire Authority
Welfare Call has given me a first class service and response at all times. No change is too much trouble for them. They are a very knowledgeable company, who know what they are talking about and are willing to go the extra mile.
Kate Harm, Specialist Education Officer for Children in Care, Derby Virtual School
We have now been working with Welfare Call for a number of years. It has made a massive difference to all ability to keep track of and support all Looked After Children. Welfare Call has been very approachable and helpful and we very pleased with the service that they offer.
Sarah Reddy, Team Manager, Oldham Virtual School
Using Welfare Call enabled us to really ‘know’ our children- we are able to monitor & target individual young people so we can be pro-active rather than reactive.
‘Care Matters’ Parliamentary Green Paper (page 60)
Tower Hamlets have contracted with a private company to monitor the school attendance of their children in care. The company call the school every day for those children most at risk of non- attendance and less frequently for those attending regularly. Where a child is not in school, Tower Hamlets will be alerted and can then investigate the reasons for non- attendance. As a result, the number of children in care absent for 25 days or more dropped by 22% in a year: the number of children with permanent exclusions dropped by 33%; and the number of fixed term exclusions dropped by more than 50%.