As part of Nottingham City Virtual School’s duty to improve and promote the education of children in care and previously looked after children, we offer training for carers, parents, designated teachers, other school staff, social workers and independent reviewing officers.
Training is free for professionals listed above.
Training is delivered in various forms – online and in-person.
The information and materials provided in your training are underpinned by relevant policy and legislation.
Updated regularly
We ask that all participants complete our training evaluation forms as this helps us to ensure our training remains effective, informative and relevant.
Training for Children's Residential Homes
Training can cover all areas relating to the education of children in care eg:
The role of key people in promoting the education of children in care
School admission arrangements and children without a school place
Behaviour
Attendance and suspensions
Personal Education Plans
Pupil Premium Plus and other funding
Transition between schools and key stages
Special educational needs and disabilities
How to book staff training:
The home manager should contact Marcus Reid mobile: 079399986594 or thevirtualschool@nottinghamcity.gov.uk to arrange training specific to the learning needs of home staff.
Training for Foster Carers
This training aims to raise the awareness in respect to the role and responsibilities of foster carers and other key people in promoting and supporting the educational achievement of children in care. The training aims to empower foster carers to take an active role in the education of children in care. It will explore the role of key people in promoting education, the purpose and process of Personal Education Plans (PEPs), the impact of attendance, an overview of special educational needs and the funding that is available to support children in care with their education.
Two sessions are available this academic year – attendees only need to attend one of those sessions.
Nottingham City Council Fostering Team manage all bookings for this training – please contact Rhiannon Gray/Sarah Wilkinson on: 0115 8764821 or email: fostering.training@nottinghamcity.gov.uk to book onto this training.
Wednesday 13th May 2026
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Venue: Microsoft teams
Virtual School staff leading the training: Karen Drummond (Education Support Officer)
Training for Social Workers
This training is appropriate for Social Workers and Family Support Workers.
This training is to raise awareness and understanding in respect to the role and responsibilities of social workers and other key people in promoting and supporting the educational achievement of looked after children. The training will consider: the role of key people in promoting the education of looked after children, school admission arrangements and children without a school place, behaviour, attendance and suspensions, Personal Education Plans, Pupil Premium Plus and other funding, transitions between schools and key stages, and special educational needs and disabilities.
Several sessions are available this academic year – attendees only need to attend one of those sessions.
Tuesday 3rd February 2026
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Venue: Microsoft teams
Virtual School staff leading the training: Karen Drummond (Education Support Officer)
Wednesday 10th June 2026
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Venue: Microsoft teams
Virtual School staff leading the training: Blossom Stephens (Education Support Officer)
Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs)
Training can cover areas relating to the education of children in care, for example:
- The role and responsibilities of IROs and key people in promoting the education of children in care
- School admission arrangements and children without a school place
- Attendance and suspensions
- Personal Education Plans
- Pupil Premium Plus and other funding
- Transitions between schools and key stages
- This bespoke training can be booked by contacting the Virtual School Team thevirtualschool@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
New to Role Designated Teacher training
This training is necessary for all Designated Teachers and staff delegated to carry out Designated Teacher role.
This training is for Designated Teachers who are new to the role. The training will cover the role and responsibilities of Designated Teachers in promoting and supporting the educational achievement of looked after children and previously looked after children.
The training will consider:
Personal Education Plans
Pupil Premium Plus
The role of the Designated Teacher
Barriers that looked after children face in education
Interventions and practices that support the educational achievement of looked after and previously looked after children.
Our Education Officer for Children Previously-looked-after and/or in Kinship comes along to share updates, answer questions and signpost to useful resources and services for these cohorts.
Wednesday 6th May 2026 Time: 09:30 – 12:30
Venue: Microsoft Teams Virtual School staff leading the training: Kelley Bhagvanji (Interim Service Manager)
Designated Teacher Network Sessions
The network sessions are appropriate for all DTs and staff delegated to carry out the Designated Teacher role. Please note that attendees are advised to attend both of the Designated Teacher network sessions available this academic year.This session is an opportunity for the Virtual School to share relevant information and evidence-based good practice with colleagues who have statutory responsibilities for children in care in Nottingham City Schools. Designated Teachers will be encouraged to share their experiences and establish links with colleagues with similar roles and responsibilities across the authority.Our Education Officer for Children Previously looked after and/or in Kinship comes along to share updates, answer questions and signpost to useful resources and services for these cohorts.
Wednesday 25th February 2026 Time: 13:00 – 15:30 Venue: Microsoft teams
Virtual School staff leading the session: Kelley Bhagvanji (Interim Service Manager)/Kaylie Thompson (Education Support Officer)
Wednesday 3rd June 2026 Time: 09:30 – 12:00 Venue: Microsoft teams
Virtual School staff leading the session: Kelley Bhagvanji (Interim Service Manager)/Kaylie Thompson (Education Support Officer)
EPEP Training - early years children
The purpose of this training is to raise awareness and understanding in respect to the requirements to promote, support and improve the education and learning of early years children in care through the PEP. The Nottingham City Virtual School uses an electronic PEP, this training will provide participants with knowledge and understanding of how the EPEP system works through a live demonstration of the EPEP portal. The training will also consider professionals’ statutory responsibilities in respect to PEPs.
Thursday 15th January 2026
Time: 09:30 – 11:30
Venue: Microsoft teams
Virtual School staff leading the training: Marcus Reid (Education Support Officer)
EPEP Training - school aged children
This training is necessary for all staff who attend and contribute to PEP meetings.
The Nottingham City Virtual School uses an electronic PEP for statutory school age children. This training will provide participants with knowledge and understanding of how the ePEP system works, through a live demonstration of the portal, taking participants through each section of the ePEP system. The training will also consider professionals’ statutory responsibilities in respect to PEPs.
Monday 9th February 2026
Time: 13:00 – 15:00
Venue: Microsoft Teams
Virtual School staff leading the training: Gail Surgay (Education Support Officer)
EPEP Post 16
This training is necessary for all staff who attend and contribute to PEP meetings for post-16 young people in care.
The Nottingham City Virtual School uses an electronic PEP for Post-16 young people in care.
This training will provide participants with knowledge and understanding of how the Post 16 ePEP system works, through a live demonstration of the portal, taking participants through each section of the ePEP system. The training will also consider professionals’ statutory responsibilities in respect to PEPs.
Monday 19th January 2026
Time: 09:30 – 11:30
Venue: Microsoft teams
Virtual School staff leading the training: Aidan Sisson (Education Support Officer)
We offer virtual training for people working with previously looked after children and children in Kinship families. This is bespoke and on request. Please email thevirtualschool@nottinghamcity.gov.uk to request a training.
We also have a Padlet of E-learning and resources. This includes lots of information on our frequently asked questions from Pupil Premium Plus to Transitions to short staff training.
You will also find lots of upcoming events on the Padlet related to previously-looked-after and Kinship. These are for parents/guardians/carers, schools, social workers and young people.
If you cannot find what you are looking for please get in touch.
Adoption East Midlands:
Adoption East Midlands (AEM) is our regional adoption agency. They support families with a wide range of services and support. Their dedicated Education team can work directly with schools and parents offering training and 1:1 advice.
Please ensure you only book training relevant to your role and responsibilities. Some of the content covered in training may relate specifically to Nottingham City schools and staff.
Once training has been requested, using the link, participants will receive a team’s invite a week prior to the training session taking place. Please do not forward this email on, colleagues must book individually via the link.
Cancellations:
Places on our training are limited, it is therefore important you contact the Virtual School on 0115 8764692 or by emailing thevirtualschool@nottinghamcity.gov.uk within 48 hours of the training taking place if you are unable to attend so we can release your place to another person.
We aim to always deliver training as scheduled, however, there may be rare occasions when we have to cancel training at short notice. In such incidents we will inform delegates as soon as possible before the date the training is due to be delivered. It is therefore important to provide a means of contact when booking training in case we need to get in touch.
In addition to the scheduled training programme detailed above, we also provide the following support to professionals in respect to supporting and promoting the education of children in care:
Attendance at professionals’ team meetings and/or development days
One to one meeting with school staff
Attendance at Headteacher briefings
Presentations to newly qualified social workers during induction
Attendance at foster carer business meetings
Training for semi independent living staff for children in care aged 16+
Bespoke training to other education professionals where required – fees may apply
Please contact Kelley Bhagvanji on 07535 354961 or email thevirtualschool@nottinghamcity.gov.uk to discuss and book bespoke training specific to the needs of staff.
Virtual School Calendar
Search for upcoming training by ourselves and other providers, events and celebration/remembrance days.