• The Social Worker informs the school and the Education Coordinator that accommodation is likely. Information should be sent to the EC on an Education Coordinator Information Proforma and faxed immediately.

• The Social Worker completes Section 1 of the PEP - Personal Information/Care Arrangements.

• The Social Worker sends the PEP to the Designated Teacher at least three weeks before the review date or the planned change of school.

• PEPs for children/young people without an education placement should be sent to the local Education Coordinator.

• The Social Worker sends a copy of the Young Person's View (Section 4) to the young person at the same time as their consultation document. Carers can help young people to complete the form.

• The DT completes Education Information/Homework Arrangements/Secondary Transfer as appropriate and attaches copies of IEP's and other documents including admission form.

• The DT/HT may complete Section 3 of the PEP - Priorities and Targets - if these have already been identified. If not the DT should contact the Social Worker to arrange a short meeting, preferably before the Review or the move. The meeting should include the young person, carer, DT and Social Worker and preferably the Education Coordinator. The class teacher may also attend. At the Education Planning Meeting the young person should be able to complete their section of the PEP, stating what their actions will be and sign it. It may not be appropriate for younger children to attend the meeting but they should be encouraged and supported to understand the targets and say what they will do.

• The DT completes as much of the Summative Record as possible from existing school records.

• The DT copies the completed PEP for the school and sends a copy to the local Education Coordinator. The original PEP is returned to the Social Worker in time for the review.

• The PEP is discussed in the Education Section of the Review and the young person should be able to complete their section of the PEP stating what their actions will be and sign it if there has not been a Planning Meeting. (Appropriate arrangements should be made for younger children as described above.) In this case the Social Worker must copy this section to the school and to the Education Coordinator.

• The Social Worker is responsible for ensuring that those with Parental Responsibility receive a copy of the completed PEP, taking account of the legality and appropriateness of individual circumstances.

• The Education Coordinator informs the Project EC that the completed PEP has been received.

• Education issues which arise after the PEP has been initiated can be discussed at the Review or at an Education Planning Meeting called by the school.

• Further Reviews will follow the PEP Action Plan for established PEPs.

• Social Workers must ensure that PEPs for pupils with July and August Reviews are sent to schools in June to ensure that they are completed in time.

• It is recognised that these timescales may not be possible in the first year of PEPs as schools and Social Workers will be new to the process. It is hoped that all Children Looked After will have a PEP by the end of the current school year. However a degree of flexibility will be needed from Designated Teachers and Social Workers.

• The overriding priority is that each CLA has a PEP initiated as per the timetable and liaison begins regarding his/her educational progress.

• the Norfolk PEP format will evolve over time and any constructive comments and suggestions will be welcomed.

• The Project Education Coordinator and local Education Coordinators can be consulted for advice regarding PEPs.

Gillian Hiles

PEC - July 2000

Norfolk Psychological Service