When you are Looked After you will have a Personal Education Plan ( PEP ). This is a plan to make sure you get the most from your education. It is an opportunity for you to say how school is going and plan what you want to get out of your education.
Your social worker, teacher or carers will ask you some questions about what you are good at and what you think about school. You can decide whether it would be good to have some extra help with anything.
They might ask you questions like these:
What are your favourite lessons at school?
If you really enjoy a subject at school, you might want to study it for exams or with a subject like music you may want to learn to play an instrument. You may want to use it in your future career. Talking about why you enjoy it might give you some ideas or help you start making plans for the future.
Who is the person, you see as being the most helpful to you at school?
If you are not sure whom you could talk to at school or you do not know people very well, you may feel a little unsure. Your social worker and teacher can help you work out the best people to talk to.
How do you feel about going to school?
Sometimes you may not be feeling very happy about some things at school. This might make it harder to do well. You can get help to make things better.
Your report on school.
Sometimes you worry about getting your school report. This is your chance to report on what your school is really like, including school dinners and the toilets! Remember to be polite and constructive.
What are your achievements?
You, your social worker, carer and your teachers should celebrate your achievements. Well done!
Hobbies
Hobbies and out of school activities are great for helping you relax. Maybe you want some extra help in getting to music lessons or football coaching. Your school may have a variety of activities on after school that you may want to try. Remember education is not just about the things you do in the classroom!
If there is something you want to ask for – extra help with homework, help with exam revision, football coaching, music lessons, martial arts lessons, arts and crafts etc – then your PEP review is one of your chances to say so. Your teacher and your social worker can get help to sort out these things.
So use this time well – and get what you want from school.