Educational Support

Personal Education Plan (PEP)

All children living in formal kinship foster care will have a Personal Education Plan (PEP).  It tracks their school progress and targets. 

You will be invited to a PEP meeting, twice a year. The meeting will take place in the child's school. The child’s education progress will be reviewed. The meeting will be led by the designated teacher. 

Others at the meeting may include:

• The Education Coordinator
• The social worker
• The class teacher or SENCO

The child/ young person is invited to attend. They can have an advocate to support them. They do not have to attend if they do not want to. Their views can be shared by someone else. 

The PEP is separate from other plans like Educational Health Care Plans, (EHCPs). Some support may overlap.

Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) 

Pupil Premium Plus is extra money for schools. It is to help care experienced children, to do well in school. 

For children in care:  

• The Virtual School manages the money.  
• Schools can apply for funding through the child’s Personal Education Plan (PEP).

For children who were in care before:  

• Schools apply for the funding themselves. They need a copy of the legal order to apply. (Special Guardianship Order, Child Arrangements Order, or Residence Order).
• Showing the legal order to the school, is the Kinship carer's choice. It will help the school if you choose to share it. 

Schools can use the funds to offer extra support where needed. It may not directly help your child. 

Note: The Pupil Premium Plus is different from Pupil Premium (PP). Pupil Premium is for children who get free school meals or have SEND. Pupil Premium Plus is worth more money. 

Designated Teacher

Every local authority school and college must have a Designated Teacher.

Their job is to:

• Look after the education of care experienced children.
• Make sure these children get the right help at school
• Support them to do their best

For children in care, the Designated Teacher also:

• Looks after the child’s Personal Education Plan (PEP)
• Checks how the child is doing
• Leads the PEP meetings twice a year
• Share with the Virtual School, how the child is doing.

Priority School Placement

Children with care experience get priority for school places.

This means, they are placed at the top of the admissions list for:

• Reception and year 7 in the 2-tier school system, (primary and secondary). 
• Or reception, year 5 and year 9 in the 3-tier school system, (first, middle, high).

If you are caring for a child under a kinship foster care arrangement:

• The Virtual School Team and the child’s social worker manage school placements.
• You should be asked your views.

Changing Schools:

If you have parental responsibility and your first-choice school is full you can: 

• Ask for your child to be added to the waiting list.  They should put at the top if you show the school your legal order.  But, there is no guarantee a place will become free. 
• You can check which local schools have spaces here and choose from this list.

Notes:

• The priority rule does not apply to independent or special schools. 
• You are responsible for your child’s travel to and from your chosen school.

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