What is a Personal Education Allowance?
The White Paper, Care Matters that was published in June 2007; confirmed the Government’s commitment to introduce an annual personal education allowance PEA for all Looked after Children, who are at risk of not reaching the national expected standards of attainment.
There is funding for this initiative of up to £500 per annum for each identified Looked after Child. The authority will be working holistically with our partners, in particular Schools and the Health Service to support the wide range of learning needs of Looked after Children and to provide access to additional learning and development activities.
The authority has established local eligibility criteria, based upon the 2008 guidance material, and within Northamptonshire, we want to ensure that the PEA supports not only the improvement to a Looked after Child’s education attainment, but in addition, reflects the needs, and addresses the barriers to learning that a Looked after Child faces.
How to access the allowance?
In accessing a Personal Education Allowance the following is applied:
- The child/young person must have a current Personal Education Plan (PEP) one that has been reviewed within the last 6 months.
- The PEP must confirm that the child/young person is not reaching their expected standard of attainment.
- The child/young person must be involved in the choice of activities that result.
- The proposed activity must be linked within the objectives set out in the child/young person’s PEP
Personal Education Allowance Policy (pdf format 40kb)
The Policy document for further guidance as to the eligibility criteria and agreed support activities.
- Personal Education Allowance Application Forms
The Personal Education Plan
We have established a robust link to the Child’s/Young Person’s personal education plan PEP, as this will act as the vital resource in identifying the progress and learning needs. The PEP will provide a record of what needs to happen for a Looked after Child to reach their potential, identifying the child’s educational and developmental needs; and will contain personalised and long term goals.
An Inclusive approach
In conjunction with this piece of work we are taking into account the views of the child/young person and their parent and or carer when deciding upon the appropriate support activity through many and ongoing consultation activities.
The Plan For 2008/9
- We now have a comprehensive application and monitoring system in place for the new school year.
- September 2008/9 which will incorporate a formal review process being undertaken during December 2008.
We would welcome your support in using and cascading this information to as many colleagues as possible.