Frequently Asked Questions about Education Plans for Adopted Children (EPAC) and
Early Years Provision Plans for Adopted Children (EYPPAC)
“This is like a light bulb being switched on… we needed something like this in Primary School.
There was nothing proactive in place like this, we had to repeat our story every year”. Parent
of an adopted secondary pupil
“It’s a time to sit down, reflect and think”. Parent of an adopted primary pupil.
So what is an EPAC?
Somerset Virtual School has developed the EPAC to help adopted children achieve the best
they can. The EPAC form is completed at an EPAC meeting with school, parents and others
that parents choose to invite.
Why has Somerset devised it?
- It was developed by Educational Psychology Service (EPS) and Children in Care (CiC)
Team in collaboration with the Adoptive Parents Consultation Group.
-
The purpose of the EPAC is to encourage positive collaboration and communication
between home and school, and to raise awareness of the needs and issues faced by
adopted children and their parents.
-
The majority of adopted children were neglected and/or suffered trauma in their birth
families. It helps schools and other education settings to be aware that adopted children
continue to have many of the same needs as Children in Care (CiC)
How can I ask for an EPAC meeting with my child’s school?
The EPAC can be initiated by either school or parents. The EPAC forms explain how to
structure the EPAC meeting. After the first meeting, parents and school set a review date to
see how the plans made at the EPAC meeting are going.
Who organises the EPAC Meeting?
Parents and school decide together who will chair the meeting and who else to invite. It is a
school based meeting – so school will:



Send out invitations with blank EPAC forms;
Chair and minute the meeting;
Send out reminders about the review date (if necessary).
T:\Children in Care\WEBSITE\Adopted Children\Education Plan for Adopted Children - Frequently Asked Questions.doc
This publication is © Copyright of Somerset County Council, March 2015, and use wholly or in part, is
strictly prohibited without prior permission. Please contact Jenny Syne for further information.
2
How do school or I get the EPAC forms?
You can ask your Permanence Team Worker (previously Post Adoption Support Team):
Telephone: 01278 447592 Email: [email protected]
Does my child have to have an EPAC? Their school don’t know they are adopted.
Parents have emphasised that confidentiality is vital. The EPAC will only be used:
 If parents choose to identify their children as adopted
 and if parents wish an EPAC to be implemented.
The Adoptive Parents’ experience is that it is extremely beneficial for schools to be aware.
I’m worried about having an EPAC because information may be shared unnecessarily – What
can I do?
Please discuss your concerns with the school’s Head Teacher (and your Permanence Team
Worker, previously Post Adoption Support Worker). Confidentiality regarding where records
are kept will be discussed as part of the EPAC meeting.
Does the school have to arrange an EPAC meeting if I ask them to?
It is not statutory; however current evaluations indicate that it is good practice and that schools
value them. The EPAC draws from the pro-active nature of the CiC Personal Education Plan,
to ensure relevant information is available and effective communication routes are established.
My child already has a plan relating to their Special Educational Needs. Do we still need an
EPAC?
This is for you and school to decide in discussion. Parents and schools have found that
EPACs provide different information which is valuable in understanding the pupil’s strengths
and needs.
What is Pupil Premium Funding?
This is a set amount of money given to schools by the Department for Education to help raise
the attainment of adopted pupils. Pupils adopted from care after December 2005 are eligible.
In the year 2014-15 this was £1,900 for each adopted pupil. Pupil Premium Funding (PPF) is
also allocated to other pupils eg Children Looked After, children of service families.
It is essential to identify where PPF is used (in conjunction with school’s own resources) so
that the Review meeting can record explicitly the direct impact of the funding for the pupil.
What about children in pre-school or Early Years groups?
The Early Years Provision Plan for Adopted Children (EYPPAC) is for children who go to
Nurseries, Pre-schools, Childminders, Children’s Centres.
This publication is © Copyright of Somerset county Council, March 2015, and use wholly or in part, is
strictly prohibited without prior permission. Please contact Jenny Syne for further information.
3
It is very similar to the EPAC in that:
 parents decide if it is what they want one and who should come to the meeting.
 Confidentiality is emphasised.
 The forms can be found on the ask Peter Newman.
The main difference is that the meeting will be chaired and minuted by the Area SENCo who is
linked to the setting.
How will you know that EPACs (and EYPPACs) are helping to support our children?
We are evaluating how useful parents, and all others attending find using them through
questionnaires filled in at the end of each EPAC/EYPPAC meeting. Please encourage all to
send completed EPACs and evaluation questionnaires to Jenny Syne
Jenny Syne
Coordinator Educational Psychologist
March 2015
P:\Professionals\1 SUPPORT SERVICES\EPS\Jenny Syne\ADOPTION\EPAC Documents Updated Mar 2015\FAQMar15.doc
This publication is © Copyright of Somerset county Council, March 2015, and use wholly or in part, is
strictly prohibited without prior permission. Please contact Jenny Syne for further information.