Fostering provides stability, care and family support to children or young people who are not able to live with their parents.
There are many reasons why children are fostered and is often a temporary arrangement whilst work is done to return the children to their families. In these cases the length of foster placements can vary from a few days, weeks or months to a few years. Sometimes fostering can be a permanent arrangement for a child.
Sometimes fostered children and young people experience a very stressful and uncertain time due to being in care. The help and support from the foster carer, and their family and friends in their support network, can have a greatly positive impact on their lives.
Personal education plans
All looked-after children have a care plan. A personal education plan (PEP) is a statutory requirement to ensure that a record is maintained regarding the child's educational progress and thus it forms an integral part of the child's overall care plan. The PEP should detail what needs to happen in order for the looked-after child to fulfil their potential. The local authority are under a duty to ensure that the PEP fully reflects the educational needs of the child, remains relevant to the child's age, ability and aptitude, and is implemented effectively.
PEPs are held termly (autumn, spring and summer) for all looked-after children from 3 years old (if in nursery) and continue until they are 18 years old. PEPs are arranged and chaired by your foster child’s social worker. The social worker will invite the designated teacher for LAC at your foster child’s school, foster carers, other appropriate professionals (for example, Virtual School Advisory Teacher or CAMHS professional), and where appropriate the child’s parents.
If a child has just come into care, a PEP should be held within 20 working days of them arriving into care. Also, if a child has had a school move mid-year, a PEP should take place within 20 working days of them starting their new school.
Foster carers should attend all PEPs. PEPs can take place in school or online and provide an opportunity to discuss your foster child’s education in more detail. The following topics will be discussed at a PEP meeting:
- Health and wellbeing
- Child’s strengths and interests
- SEND (Special educational needs and disabilities)
- Attainment
- Attendance, behaviour and suspensions
- Child’s input
- School transfer (applicable to Year 6 and 11 children and any children needing a change in school)
- Targets
Frequently asked questions
What is a personal education plan?
Every child in care must have a current personal education plan (PEP) which states the specific educational targets for the individual. The social worker is responsible to initiate the PEP working in partnership with the designated teacher.
Who are designated teachers?
It is a statutory requirement for each school to have a teacher with responsibility to make sure children in care within the school are supported. The designated teacher in the school must hold a complete list of children in care and have oversight of their progress in school. Enfield Virtual School maintains an up-to-date list of designated teachers in schools across the country wherever our children and young people are educated. Training is provided for designated teachers frequently.
At what age do children require a PEP?
All children of statutory school-age are required to have a PEP as part of their care plan. Regardless of whether or not they are attending school. Younger children who attend nurseries and young people in education aged 16 and over also have a PEP. The purpose of the PEP is to promote and acknowledge progress, this is relevant at all stages from nursery to university.
Is the child or young person expected to attend a PEP meeting?
Yes. They should be supported by a member of the school staff to complete the ‘Child/Young Person’ section of the PEP before the meeting and supported to discuss at the meeting.
What is Welfare Call?
We commission Welfare Call, a telephone attendance tracking service to contact all educational provisions every day and report back to us on our children and young people’s attendance and attainment. PEPs are also complete on the Welfare Call platform.
My child has an EHCP – what is it?
An education health care plan (EHCP) is a detailed, document outlining a child’s special educational, health, and social care needs and the provision they require, issued by the local authority. EHCPs are for those children with complex needs who require support beyond that which the school can usually provide without additional funding and support from the local authority. An EHCP is reviewed annually, at an annual review, to ensure that any extra support given continues to meet the child’s needs.
Transition points:
- Year 5 summer term – secondary school should be discussed at annual review
- During year 9 the annual review there is a transition review where future career opportunities are discussed and considered
For our children with an EHCP, any changes in school placement must be managed by the SEN department in the local authority where the child lives.
What is a suspension or exclusion?
An exclusion occurs when the head teacher has decided that as a result of a child’s behaviour they can no longer attend the school either permanently or for a specified period of time (suspension). The exclusion has to be in accordance with the school’s behaviour policy and national guidance on exclusion.
If your child has been suspended or excluded, contact Enfield Virtual School for advice and guidance by emailing virtualschool@enfield.gov.uk. Please include your child’s name, school and age in the email.