Under the Extended Duties of AfC Virtual School, social workers will be invited to attend Consultation Clinics led by an Educational Psychologist and attended by a member of the Extended Duties Team. The aim of the clinics is to work with social workers to think of strategies and interventions that can be used to break down barriers to education. Training and support for social workers will be provided by the Extended Duties team in order to bring school attendance forward as a priority in safeguarding children on Child in Need or Child Protection plans.

Training for school staff to equip them and develop knowledge and strategies to engage and connect with children who have or who are experiencing trauma is being carried out as well as attachment aware training through the Attachment Aware Schools Award training programme for schools. Through this staff will build up their skills in communicating with children in a way that promotes a sense of belonging, builds relationships, develops resilience and provides an inclusive environment. 

Schools who have a high number of children on Child In Need & Child Protection plans with low attendance and persistent absence have been identified and supportive visits to these schools are underway.