The Virtual School and Social Care work in partnership to ensure the child’s education is prioritised, alongside their care. You play a very important part when it comes to a child's education planning. During Personal Education Planning meetings (PEPs), you are able to help to set a context to inform the outcomes set and provide a fresh perspective. This ensures that all partners (including the child) can make good, well informed choices. PEPs are important because a child may move from placement to placement, or school to school, and it's important that they have a record of their achievements and a sense of their history.
A child or young person’s social worker will complete some of the Personal Education Plan (ePEP) on Welfare Call, to ensure that relevant details are always up-to-date. You will also work in partnership with carers, parents, schools and residential staff to ask for their input and views prior to a PEP meeting.The social worker and designated teacher (DT) for Looked After Children should decide when is the most appropriate time to meet, and confirm who will be attending the meeting.
Before a PEP meeting:
- Each term, social workers complete Pupil Details and Carer/Parent Views sections. Ask a Virtual School teacher for a parent carer views form, if required. See the ePEP social worker meeting resource
- The child/young person's views on school will be recorded by the agreed, most appropriate, professional
What is a Personal Education Plan (PEP)
The Personal Education Plan (PEP) is a statutory tool to ensure that everyone is actively prioritising the education of the child or young person. All Children in our Care (CIOC) have a statutory Care Plan, which is drawn up and reviewed by the Local Authority that looks after them. The Personal Education Plan (PEP) is a legal part of the CarePlan; which is a statutory requirement for CIOC from being in preschool provision up to the age of 18.
The Virtual School will:
- Share concerns and achievements with Social Workers.
- Advise and assist Social Workers, if a child requires a new school placement.
- Provide 1:1 tuition or access to online educational resources, where appropriate.
- Provide training for Social Workers.
- Provide opportunities for social workers to participate in holiday activities for KS2,3 and 4 students.
- Keep you up-to-date with Study Support Days and Events for your young people.
- Provide your young person with a laptop for their learning; usually at key stage 4.
- Provide your child with interactive resources for learning, employment and training on our THVSLearn App, on Apple and Android Please help your child to register using the code we provide.
- Social workers can also access the app and use our Digital Library training resources. Ask a Virtual School teacher for your code.
Schools Admissions Checklist
- Have the Virtual School Teacher and Advisor been informed?
- Is the school judged by OFSTED to be Good or Outstanding?
- Given the young person's location, is the school most suitable based on their needs?
- Does the young person have Special Education Needs?
- If the young person has a statement, have the SEND department been informed?
- If the young person has a statement, is the school's local offer able to meet the young person's needs?
- Has an informational visit been arranged?
- Does the young person want to attend this school?