Message from Patrick Finegan - Virtual Head

As it is already very difficult for schools to host PEPs for their LAC, Wokingham Virtual School has decided to advise all adults who normally attend PEPs to hold the PEPs using other means that avoid face to face meetings. Fortunately, Wokingham uses an ePEP system run by eGOV, which allows the participants to enter all of their information remotely. To help communication I have decided to ask them to put all carers on the system so they can contribute to the PEP by supporting the young person with their views as well as using the messaging system to communicate with social workers and designated teachers. As with all professionals they will only see those children in their care.

If a PEP is booked before Easter please do not hold a meeting. If there are concerns about the young person’s progress, attendance or behaviour please put this on the system and message any professional you think needs to be aware of this. You may then wish to hold a phone call if action is needed.

As schools are effectively closed after Easter, please arrange PEPs in the normal way and then follow the advice above around communicating concerns. For any LAC, where there are no current concerns, each person should fill in their section as usual which would then be available for all professionals to see.

After Easter we were due to change the pupil premium plus system to give each LAC a set amount of money. We will suspend this until school life returns to normal as we expect we will need to review the needs of each child/young person on an individual basis and support them accordingly. If you have any urgent educational requests please do not hesitate to contact the Virtual School.

We hope this emergency will soon be over and until then the Virtual School will remain dedicated to supporting the education of all Wokingham Looked After Children and Previously Looked After Children

Patrick Finegan - Virtual Head