Designated Teachers in schools and education settings

Personal Education Plans (PEPs)

Central Bedfordshire Virtual School uses our own electronic Personal Education Plan (PEP). The PEP is prepopulated by our PEP Co-ordinator and a link to this is sent to the Designated Teacher (DT) along with a username and password to access it at least 3 weeks before the PEP meeting.

Each child will have a minimum of two PEP meetings a year with a Designated Teacher (DT) Review in the term when a PEP meeting does not take place. For this, only the DT is present. The electronic PEP is managed and completed by the school and submitted within 5 days of the PEP meeting. To submit a completed PEP, school must contact the allocated Education Advisor who will quality assure the PEP and then submit it.

The PEP should be completed in as much detail as possible before the PEP meeting. The PEP needs to be submitted on time to ensure it is available to review the child’s overall care plan.

The child’s Social Worker, carer, Designated Teacher, Education Advisor from the Virtual School, child (if appropriate) and parents (if appropriate) will be at the PEP meeting. Other professionals may attend, for example, the Supervising Social Worker, CAMHs workers or alternative education providers. The Social Worker arranges the PEP and sends out invites. The Education Advisor chairs the PEP meeting.

Quality Assurance of PEPs

Every PEP is quality assured before it is submitted. Below are the criteria for good PEPs. If a PEP is deemed unsatisfactory then the DT is supported by the Education Advisor to improve it. If a PEP is rated satisfactory advice will be given by the Education Advisor so the PEP can be improved next time.

PEP rating GOOD:

  • all significant sections completed in detail
  • targets and actions included with breakdown of staff and child’s actions
  • at least 3 SMART targets are included that match the child's needs
  • previous targets are reviewed
  • clear impact of previous pupil premium plus spend recorded
  • clear evidence of the effective use of pupil premium plus linked to pupil outcomes
  • record of termly progress from baseline and against national standards
  • returned within 5 school days of the PEP meeting
  • SDQ scores recorded (if relevant)
  • reading age recorded
  • pupil and carer views recorded
  • additional documentation (attendance records and IEPS) is included where relevant