Designated Teachers' Newsletter

Dear Colleagues, 

Please see this term’s Designated Teacher update (pdf, 756KB) from Oxfordshire’s Virtual School.

This termly publication aims to provide updates, signposts, useful strategies and ideas to support the work of Designated Teachers for Children We Care For and Previously Cared For Children. Do pass on, print and display, as appropriate. 

Designated Teacher (DT) Induction Training 

If you are a new DT or have not attended DT induction training, please contact your Virtual School Caseworker for support without delay and get the date into your diary for our Spring DT Induction Training (Wednesday 19th March, 1-3.30pm) which will be in-person and is bookable now via Education Services. 

2025 Virtual School Conference 

You will also see that we are encouraging all DTs to attend our 2025 Virtual School Conference on Thursday 16 October. Our Virtual School Conference poster (pdf, 201KB) contains more details and to book on. If you are seeking a fast-track to booking, you can do this via Education Services. 

Introduction to Parental Imprisonment

There are currently spaces available on the above course which is a 2-part training taking place on the 6 and 13 March. Please do sign staff up if this could meet a need. To book, visit the course page on Education Services. 

2024-25 Virtual School Training and Support Offer

While the newsletter highlights training up to the beginning of April, please see below for the comprehensive 2024-25 Virtual School Training and Support Offer. This outlines the training and support Designated Teachers (DTs), and staff working with our care-experienced children and young people, can freely access. Our offer is very popular, so we would recommend you book on without delay. 

We are here to support… Don’t suffer in silence. 

If you have any questions relating to Children We Care For or Previously Cared For Children, please don’t hesitate to contact us - virtualschool@oxfordshire.gov.uk. 

We are here to help! 

Thank you for all that you do to ensure the best possible outcomes for our children and young people, including unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people. What we do to improve outcomes for our care-experienced children and young people can’t be achieved alone – we’re in this together! 

We hope Term 4 gets off to a positive start 😊 

Oxfordshire Virtual School