How out-of-school-hours learning can benefit children in care Sue Dean is the Corporate Parenting Consultant in charge of the 500 looked-after children in Nottinghamshire. They are pupils in her virtual school. She monitors their progress like any headteacher. Sue is an advocate of out-of-school-hours learning, which she believes can make a big difference in the lives of all children in care. It’s not always easy to arrange, as more permissions are required from the various support agencies than for a child who is not looked-after.

We meet three students whose confidence and self-esteem have been raised by their out-of-school activities. Gemma does Tae Kwon Do, Sean has a personal maths tutor and Jennifer is a keen member of her local St John’s Ambulance group. Their carers agree that these activities have had a positive impact in the young people’s lives.