PERSONAL EDUCATION ALLOWANCES FOR LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
What are PEAs?
The Care Matters (2008) Guidance introduces the 'Personal Education Allowance' (or PEA) for school-age looked after children.
All children and young people who are unlikely to reach their national minimum targets can access a fund of up to £500. This money can then be used to improve their education and encourage tem in reaching minimum grades.
All children are expected to achieve at least:
Level 2 in reading, writing and mathematics at Key Stage 1
Level 4 in english, mathematics at Key Stage 3, and
Five A* - C grades at GCSE including english and maths, or equivalent.
The young person's Personal Education Plan should give a good indication of whether these grades are likely to be met, although if you are in doubt about this ... apply anyway.
The intention of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in providing this funding is for it to be used to encourage "activities or provision of resources which will support the learning and development of the child. It should be used to provide what a parent of a non-looked-after child would be expected to provide." It is still expected that schools and local authorities will continue to fund activities which are deemed to be mainstream.
The activity being funded should be linked to the education objectives set out in the young person's Personal Education Plan (PEP) so, consequently, PEP meetings should always be asking "what can be provided through the PEA to support the young person educationally or culturally?"
Examples of the type of activity that a personal educational allowance might be used to support include:
- Additional one-to-one tuition
- Out of school learning and development
- Additional, personalised, educational trips and visits
- Learning resources that the local authority does not expect to be covered by fostering allowances or children's homes fees
- Wider activities that will benefit the child or young person's learning and development; and
- Additional support for vocational training.
In Bolton, PEAs are currently being used to fund a wide range of activity, including the provision of computers and internet access for children. One young woman disengaged from school used her money to buy a camera and get involved with project work. Others will access creative writing workshops and out of school sessional teaching. The criteria for spending this money is rich with opportunity.
PEA funding can be accessed via the weekly Resource Management Panel. Please complete a referral form and email it to debra.hurst@bolton.gov.uk and also lyn.hailwood@bolton.gov.uk
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