Virtual school for children looked after and care leavers
Ealing's virtual school team champions the education of Ealing's children looked after (CLA) and care leavers. We do this through our professional relationships with those who, day to day, work with and teach Ealing’s most vulnerable learners. We advocate for best outcomes, supporting and challenging colleagues to promote educational progress, engagement and attainment CLA, careleavers and other vulnerable young people.
Services are provided to people who work with young people in care such as school staff, social workers and other professionals. Read the Ealing virtual school SEN handbook for social workers.
information for CLAs is available on the Young Ealing website
The virtual school offers:
- Support to schools/education providers to consider and plan how best to raise educational achievement and help to ensure that young people in care maximise their potential
- Educational support to young people in care without a school place until the young person is admitted to school
- Opportunity to participate in education programmes in term time or school holidays
- Ongoing advice and support to schools, social workers and carers on educational issues related to children in care
- Training events and conferences are held throughout the year
- Support to networks of parents of care experienced children – children who left care on an order (adoption, special guardianship, child arrangement) and children in kinship arrangements
- Strategic oversight of outcomes of children with a social worker (those young people who are CIN or CP status).
Ealing's virtual school team
Andrew Martin, Headteacher
Tel: 020 8825 6648
Email: MartinA@ealing.gov.uk
Alison O’Connor, Deputy Headteacher
Tel:020 8825 6802
Email: OConnorA@ealing.gov.uk
Sian Hender, Virtual School Education Officer for CLA
Tel: 020 8825 5532
Email: henders@ealing.gov.uk
Marina McCarthy, Virtual School Education Officer for CLA
Tel: 0208 825 9786
Email: mmccarthy001@ealing.gov.uk
Amaani Qayyum, Care Leavers and NEET
Tel: 0208 825 8207
Email:aqayyum001@ealing.gov.uk
Virtual School Education Officer for CLA, PLA, and Kinship- to commence from July 2025
Nicola Turner, Data Analyst (Virtual School)
Email: turnerN@ealing.gov.uk
Ealing Virtual School General Enquiries
ealingvirtualschool@ealing.gov.uk
Ealing virtual school transition
These documents are for teachers and children in Year 6/7 who are (or were previously) looked after. It provides information and resources to support the transition to high school and includes:
