Welcome to the Peterborough Virtual School podcast!
Our vision is that all children known to social care will achieve educational outcomes enabling them to lead happy, healthy and fulfilled lives.
Hosted by our very own team alongside those with lived and learned experiences, this podcast is designed to help and support anyone navigating the world of education on behalf of the children they support . We explore how some of the typical barriers faced by this cohort of children can be minimised and how to maximise opportunities to ensure full educational potential is reached for each and every child.
S02 E01 The scope and role of Peterborough Virtual School
Zoe Lattimer and Nic Phillips explore the Peterborough Virtual School's scope and role, offering insights for education professionals.
28 Feb 2026
S02 E03 The Education of Young People Known to Youth Justice
Zoe Lattimer and Gina Hayes interview Tamar Rafferty, Peterborough City Council's Education, Training and Employment Officer, about the unique educational needs of young people in the youth justice system.
28 Feb 2026
S02 E06 Exploring the Roles and Responsibilities of Children's Social Care
In our final episode for season 2, Zoe Lattimer and Fran Haunch welcome Lauren Smith and Holly Parker to the show. Lauren and Holly are experienced social workers and give us a glimpse into the work of social care professionals who support our children and young people beyond the school gates. They walk us through the social care journey, explore some of the issues which may have led to a child or family becoming known to them and provide guidance on some of the technical jargon and legal pro...
28 Feb 2026
S02 E05 Supporting Transitions
In today's episode, Gina Hayes and Amanda Jones from our Inclusion and Engagement team discuss the range of transitions which children may experience through their educational journeys - the big ones such as primary to secondary and also the smaller ones, such as moving from learning time to break time and back again. They explore what considerations teachers and teaching assistants may take into account to support children known and previously known to social care. Supporting school transiti...
28 Feb 2026
S02 E02 The barriers and vulnerabilities of children known and previously known to social care
Nic Phillips, Lisa Hatfield and Elizabeth Hobday from Peterborough Virtual School are your hosts for this episode. They discuss what the specific barriers are which children who are currently or previously known to social care might face and acknowledge how these can lead to poor educational outcomes for this cohort of children and young people. Promoting the education of children with a social worker and children in kinship care arrangements: virtual school head role extension - GOV.UK For f...
28 Feb 2026
S02 E04 Curriculum considerations for children known or previously known to social care
In this episode, Laura Hurrell and Emma Slade from Peterborough Virtual School consider how are the specific needs of children known to social care are considered within the curriculum: How can the curriculum be trauma-proofed?How are particular curriculum ‘hotspots’ within History, RE, RSE, PSHE, Science, English and assemblies are considered? How are positive role models of care-experienced adults are embedded within the curriculum?Windows and mirrors: Why curriculum representati...
28 May 2025
S01 E09 Special Educational Needs and Disabilities: Everybody's Business
Gemma Mead, Peterborough's Area SENCo, discusses the complexities of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system and how social care professionals can navigate it in an interview with Alex West and Lisa Hatfield.
21 May 2025
S01 E08 Aiming for University: Opening Doors for Future Opportunities
In the episode, Nic is delighted to be talking with Becca Jones from the charity Become which supports children in care and care leavers. Becca offers advice and support to young people wanting to progress into Further or Higher Education. Home Page - Become For further information about the work of Peterborough Virtual School please visit our website Peterborough Virtual School If you have concerns around the education of a child or young person known to social care, please contact the Virt...
14 May 2025
S01 E07 Aspiration and Ambition: Empowering Children to Dream Big
Adam Tams and Anna Noble are joined in this episode by Elle Johnson, Peterborough's Care Leaver Local Offer Led, to discuss why it is so important that we work to encourage aspiration and ambition among young people. They explain the transformative power of high aspirations and the impact these can have in ensuring that young people successfully transition into education, employment or training. Care leavers considerably less likely on average to be in education, employment or tra...
7 May 2025
S01 E06 Unaccompanied Children in Care: Strategies and Knowledge to Support Education
In this episode, Nic Phillips and Fran Haunch are joined by Ishmael Ngundu (Team Manager for Leaving Care). Ishmael shares his extensive knowledge and experience of the specific needs and vulnerabilities of Unaccompanied Children in Care. Care of unaccompanied migrant children and child victims of modern slavery: Statutory guidance for local authorities Independent Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children Support Service (IUSS) Children's Commissioned: The Big Ambition for Unaccompan...
30 Apr 2025
S01 E04 Attendance Matters: Every Minute Counts
Gina Hayes and Clare Webley from Peterborough Virtual School's Inclusion and Engagement Team are your hosts for this episode. They discuss why good school attendance is so very important for all children and young people and acknowledge some of the barriers which may lead to poor attendance for children and young people known to children's services. They are joined by clinician Vanessa Kinsey-Thatcher to explore the increasing concern around emotionally based school avoidance and what social ...
30 Apr 2025
S01 E05 Transitions and Admissions: Navigating Change, Beginnings and Endings
In today's episode, Gina Hayes and Amanda Jones from our Inclusion and Engagement team discuss the range of transitions which children may experience throughout their educational journeys - the big ones such as primary to secondary and also the smaller ones, such as moving from learning time to break time and back again. They explore the considerations which need to be undertaken if a change of school is needed and explain why change can be difficult in some circumstances. School Admissions C...
23 Apr 2025
S01 E03 A Right to Education: A journey through our education system
In this episode, Fran Haunch and Emma Slade from Peterborough Virtual School's Partnership and Outcomes team are joined by Peterborough's Service Director for Education, Carrie Traill. Fran, Emma and Carrie consider children's rights to education and explore the vision of high quality, full-time and well-matched education for all children and young people in Peterborough. They follow the education journey from nursery into primary school and then secondary school - explaining some of the key ...
23 Apr 2025
S01 E02 Peterborough Virtual School: Our vision and way of working
All Children Known to Social Care will achieve educational outcomes enabling them to lead healthy, happy and fulfilled lives. Zoe Lattimer and Nic Phillips are back in this episode to explain the specific way of working in Peterborough Virtual School. They detail the intelligence and evidence base which underpins the model and the intention behind this which is to maximise the impact of the work. They explain in detail the breadth of work across the Virtual School within the internal teams to...
19 Mar 2025
S01 E01 What is a Virtual School? – Championing Education for Children Known to Social Care
In the first episode of our Peterborough Virtual School podcast, Zoe Lattimer and Nic Phillips introduce the breadth and scope of the Virtual School. They welcome John Gregg, Executive Director of Children's Services, to explore the important strategic role of the Virtual School to make visible the barriers faced by children known to social care. Virtual Schools: Education's Hidden Asset Improving the Effectiveness of Virtual Schools For further information about the work of Peter...
Who has been a guest on Education, Aspiration, Success
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Zoe Lattimer
Nic Phillips
Gemma Mead
Podcast Authority Score: 7 / 100
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