IEP - Individual Education Plan

WHAT IS AN IEP?

An IEP or Individual Education Plan is a plan or programme designed for children with SEN to help them to get the most out of their education. An IEP builds on the curriculum that a child with learning difficulties or disabilities is following and sets out the strategies being used to meet that child’s specific needs.

An IEP is a teaching and learning plan and should set out targets and actions for the child that are different from or additional to those that are in place for the rest of the class. The IEP is not a legal document, which means that the LEA does not have to produce a plan or make sure that a child receives any support that is outlined in the plan.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN IEP?

The purpose of an IEP is to inform the teacher and others working with the child of specific targets for the child and how these will be reached. The IEP allows schools and staff to plan for progression, monitor the effectiveness of teaching, monitor the provision for additional support needs within the school, collaborate with parents and other members of staff and help the child become more involved in their own learning and work towards specific targets.

WHAT IS IN AN IEP?

An IEP should contain "targets", "provisions" and "outcomes". It should note 3 or 4 short-term targets set for or by the child, the teaching strategies to be used to achieve those targets, the provision that will be put in place, say when the plan is to be reviewed and identify outcomes which show the child’s progress against his/her previous targets.

Information that may be contained in an IEP may include:

• Any likes, dislikes or anxieties that the child may have
• Assessment information
• Details of any other educational plans the child may have.
• Details of how the IEP will be co-ordinated
• Details of the child’s additional support needs
• Details of who will be providing the support.
• Home-based tasks and the parents’ and child’s comments
• Information and timescales for reviewing the IEP.
• Targets that the child is expected to achieve within a specified period of time.
• Parents and child’s details

Targets set in the IEP should be "SMART", which stands for:
            Specific, so that it is clear what the child should be working towards
            Measurable, so that it is clear when the target has been achieved
            Achievable, for the individual child
            Relevant, to the child’s needs and circumstances
            Time-bound, so that the targets are to be achieved by a specified time

REVIEWING AN IEP

The IEP is a working document and should be reviewed regularly (usually two or three times a year) to ensure that it continues to meet the child’s needs. When reviewing IEPs teachers need to consider both the parents' and the child’s views, the progress made by the pupil, the effectiveness of the IEP, any specific issues that impact on the child’s progress and any changes to targets or strategies. After considering the child’s current progress, new targets should be set to be achieved by the next IEP review.

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Please note that every care is taken to ensure that the information included on this webpage is accurate. However, should you discover any information which you believe to be inaccurate please Contact Us as soon as possible.

Although the information we have provided here is meant to be helpful to you, Douglas Silas Solicitors cannot be held responsible for any damage or loss caused by any inaccuracy or reliance placed upon it. If you have any concerns about your child, you should seek professional educational or healthcare advice as soon as possible.