PEPs - General information

A Personal Education Plan (PEP) is a statutory active document for a looked-after child. It forms the education part of the child's Care Plan.

The PEP sets out the child's:

• identified needs
• school history
• targets for educational progress, attainment and achievement, and the support in place to secure these targets
• views about their own education and aspirations for the future (discussed in partnership with social workers, parents and carers)

Each looked-after child should feel that the PEP is relevant to their needs and other aspects of their lives. It is important to listen to and involve the child in a positive, supportive way during the PEP process.

First PEP meeting

The social worker will arrange the first PEP meeting date.

• For a child new to care and of statutory school age, the first PEP meeting will be held within 20 days of them coming into care
• For a child placed in emergency care, the first PEP meeting will be held within 10 working days of them coming into care, wherever they are placed

Ongoing PEP meetings

The social worker will liaise with schools and other parties to arrange ongoing PEP meetings.

For every looked-after child of statutory school age, it is a legal requirement to hold at least two PEP meetings each academic year. The PEP meeting should take place before the child's statutory care plan review, held every six months.

It is effective practice to hold three PEP meetings per year (one per term). Holding regular PEP meetings ensures that:

• plans are always based on current information
• plans continue to meet the child's educational needs
• information from the PEP is available at the next statutory care plan review