IEP

Also called Individual Education Plan, Pupil passport, One-page profile, Support plan

A school's own record of a child's targets and support. Useful, common, and not legally required.

What it is

An individual education plan is a short document recording a child's targets, the support in place to meet them, and a review date. Schools also use pupil passports, one-page profiles and provision maps for similar purposes.

None of these is required by law or by the SEND Code of Practice. The requirement is to use the graduated approach; the paperwork is the school's choice.

Where it applies

Pupils on SEN support, and often alongside an EHCP as the working document staff actually use.

How it works

Typically three or four targets, reviewed termly with parents.

Because it is not statutory, it is not enforceable. An IEP that promises daily reading support and does not happen is a broken promise, not a breach of a legal duty — which is exactly the difference between this and Section F of an EHCP.

What you can ask for

Ask for a copy each time it is reviewed, and for targets specific enough to tell whether they were met.

Ask who delivers each item and when. "In-class support" that turns out to be the teaching assistant being present in the room is a common gap between the document and the day.

Where to get help

SENDIASS will look over one with you.