Coventry Virtual School - guidance and support

To make things easier for everyone during the Academic Year 2023-24 we are changing the way Pupil Premium Plus payments will be made. PEP submission deadlines are also changing.

PEPs are a statutory requirement. The expectation is every child in care from age 3 years old to the end of Y11 will have one PEP per term, with an additional PEP should a school move happen mid-term. For any young person who is not on a school roll and is awaiting placement then a PEP conversation will replace a formal PEP but will still be recorded on ePEP.

Virtual School will do their best to attend PEPs for:

• Any child new to care
• Any child new to a school
• Reception, Year 7 and  Year 11 in the Autumn term
• Y6 and Year 11 in the Summer term

Virtual School will prioritise attendance at a PEP for any child where there are education concerns, or a school move is likely.

It is the joint responsibility of the Designated Teacher and the Social Worker to invite Virtual School to PEPs on a mutually convenient date. Invites should be sent via email and not via ePEP.

Personal Education Plans (PEPs) submission deadlines

Autumn

• Reception, Year 7 and Year 11: 31 October 2023
• All other year groups: 30 November 2023

Spring

All year groups 14 March 2024

Summer

All year groups 14 June 2024

Reminders

• All PEPs must be submitted within 3 weeks of the PEP meeting.
• Designated Teachers can submit the social worker section (and should do so to prevent delay). Failure to submit a satisfactory PEP will result in PP+ not being paid for that term.
• For school age children PP+ will be paid in 3 equal payments of £600 each. There will be an additional  £200 boost payment for a child new to care or new to a school.
• For nursery age children PP+ will be paid in 3 equal payments of £100 each.
• Independent special schools do not receive PP+ as it is already accounted for in cost of the school place.

Every professional involved with the child is a corporate parent and has a responsibility to support the child as a good parent would. If in the time between PEPs there are issues that arise that give cause for concern or a child’s behaviour changes negatively then please contact us. Do not wait for the next PEP. We are here to help and support but that will become more challenging if we don’t know there is a situation in school which is impacting on the young person’s ability to access education.

• Promoting the education of looked-after children and previously looked-after children (publishing.service.gov.uk)
• The designated teacher for looked-after and previously looked-after children (publishing.service.gov.uk)