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<p>The department does not hold information on the number of Virtual School Heads
(VSHs) in post. However, all local authorities in England with responsibilities for
children’s social care must appoint at least one person to this post.</p><p>The appointment
of a VSH for previously looked-after children is a statutory requirement under Section
23ZZA of the Children Act 1989 (inserted by the Children and Families Act 2017).</p><p>The
Children in Need Review recognised the impact that VSHs have in raising aspiration
and promoting educational achievement of looked-after and previously looked-after
children, recommending that their role is further extended to cover all children with
a social worker. The Timpson Review of School Exclusion also found ‘good evidence
that VSHs are effective in supporting schools’.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
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