Topic outline

  • Education Support Plans

    The Education Support Plan (ESP) provides carers, education settings an associated professionals with a clear process to identify and address the needs of children impacted by trauma and loss. 

    ​Developed by Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton virtual schools, the ESP aims to improve educational attendance engagement and outcomes. The ESP is not a statutory document; however, we would suggest that this tool should be used as best practice within educational provisions to support previously looked-after children, children who have, or have had a social work and those in kinship care.​

    ​It is expected that the ESP will be initiated at the start of the academic year, or whenever at the child changes in education setting, and then monitored and reviewed every term so that any new targets can be agreed and implemented. The ESP is designed to be dynamic and responsive with shared collaborative meetings to best support the education and provision for the child.

    Purpose of the ESP:

    - Promote attachment-aware and trauma-informed practices
    - Enhance existing plans with SMART actions
    - Increase visibility of the child’s needs
    - Encourage collaboration among all professionals and carers
    - Be dynamic and flexible

    What’s Included in the Plan:

    - Child’s Profile: Name, education provider, year group, SEN status, funding
    - Support Network: Professionals involved
    - Child’s Voice: Reflections, goals, challenges
    - Parent/Carer Reflections
    - Current Education: Subjects, interests, progress and achievement