KCSIE 2026 footnote 55 says all looked-after children must have a PEP, as part of the care plan the local authority must keep and review. It is not a school document as such: the child's social worker, supported by the virtual school head, leads on starting it, and the designated teacher leads on it inside the school.
The DfE's guidance on promoting the education of looked-after children (paragraphs 20 to 25) says:
- the PEP should be started even if the child has no school place, and within 10 working days of an emergency placement
- it should be ready for the first statutory review of the care plan
- it should record attainment and progress, SEN and mental health needs, short and longer-term targets, and who will do what by when
- the virtual school and designated teacher agree how pupil premium plus will be used to support it.
Care plans are reviewed within 20 working days of the child becoming looked after, then after three months, then every six months. The PEP should be up to date for each review. Many virtual schools also ask for a PEP meeting each term, often on an electronic form (an "ePEP"), but the format and frequency are set locally.
Not the same as: a PEP in other countries (a physical education programme) or an EHCP. If the child has an EHCP, the PEP should link to it, not repeat it.