Designated Teacher Newsletter

Dear Colleagues,

Please see attached for the latest Designated Teacher update of 2025/26 (pdf, 881kb) 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.

We need your input...

To make sure our support is genuinely meeting your needs, we’re asking all Designated Teachers to complete this short survey as soon as you receive this email:

Designated Teacher Training and Support Preferences Survey – Fill in form

NEW Designated Teachers (DTs)

Induction training is essential for new DTs. Our next in-person training session takes place on Wednesday 18 March – click here to book on.

This training is targeted at DTs working with children in Early Years, Primary and Secondary settings. If you are a Post-16 provider, please contact mark.walker@oxfordshire.gov.uk (Virtual School Post-16 Phase Lead) as our Post-16 team can provide personalised training for you.

2026 Virtual School Conference

Our 2026 Annual Conference will be taking place on Thursday 8 October at Unipart House.

With keynotes from Louise Bombèr, renowned specialist in attachment aware and trauma responsive education, and Linda Culling, Senior HMI, sharing what Ofsted expects for vulnerable learners, you’ll leave equipped with practical, relational strategies to support children experiencing instability, disrupted learning and trauma.

To book on, view the Education Services page

2025–26 Virtual School Training and Support Offer

Our comprehensive 2025–26 Virtual School Training and Support Offer is free and available for booking via the Education Services website

View upcoming training and events:
on our Virtual School page.

Do share our training offer with other members of staff who might benefit.

We hope to publish our 2026–27 offer shortly – watch this space.

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 most vulnerable children and young people.

What we do can’t be achieved alone – we’re in this together!

All best wishes,
Oxfordshire Virtual School