Supporting virtual schools: our roles as a local authority

Find out how our Virtual School can provide support and guidance for children and young people in care or adopted.

As a local authority, we have a statutory duty to support children and young people aged up to 18 who are: 

  • looked after children by Waltham Forest 
  • previously looked after but now subject to adoption, child arrangement or special guardianship order 
  • looked after by a relative or family friend (known as ‘kinship care’)
  • known to social services and have an allocated social worker  

To support the education and welfare of these children and young people, and to promote their educational achievement, we have a ‘virtual school’. 

Who a virtual school works with

We provide a range of services for families, professionals and organisations. 

Families, children and young people 

For children in looked after care or other types of care, we: 

  • provide support and guidance  
  • promote aspiration and champion the educational needs of children and young people 
  • monitor the educational progress of all young people in care as if they were attending a single school 
  • provide extra learning and leisure opportunities through enrichment activities