A Personal Education Plan (PEP) is a document describing a course of action to help a child or young person reach their full academic and life potential. It is a legal requirement for every child and young person in care of statutory school age to have their PEP reviewed at least three times each academic year.

The PEP Document is initiated by the Buckinghamshire Virtual School liaison teacher/officer.  This document is then completed at a meeting attended by the designated teacher, the social worker, and the carers for the young person. The views of the child or young person should also be included, either at the PEP meeting itself or through discussions outside the meeting. The PEP Document contains the information that is needed to help guide the meeting discussions, along with the planning and delivery of what is required to make sure the young person gets the support and resources they need to succeed academically. The PEP meeting is also an opportunity for additional funding to be considered (PP+).

A full PEP Document should be completed at any time of significant change:

• when a child first comes into care
• moves to a new care placement
• enters a new Key Stage (years R, 7, 11)
• moves to a new school setting

The PEP Document is also an important tool for keeping track of a young person’s progress towards their own individual SMART targets, whether short, medium or longer term.

• Specific
• Measurable
• Assigned - to specific responsible professionals
• Realistic - can they be achieved
• Time constrained

PEP Documents and PEP meetings highlight the commitment that all of us as parents, carers and corporate parents have in taking joint responsibility for ensuring that our young people in care get the best out of the educational opportunities available to them.

EPEP

Buckinghamshire Virtual School use an online system for recording and monitoring PEPs.  Designated Teachers will receive log in details and can access this document at any time to review and update it in between PEP meetings if necessary- it is a live document.