fter children before statutory school leaving age: section 22(3A) of the 1989 Act sets out the duty on local authorities to promote educational achievement. Statutory Guidance supports this: Promoting the Educational Achievement of Looked After Children (2010). A Personal Education Plan (PEP) is a legal requirement for all looked after children as it forms the educational part of their statutory care plan. Guidance on the support for children in care includes the Virtual School Head Toolkit (2010). B.2 Education doesn’t stop at age 16. Regulation 5 of the Care Leavers Regulations states that pathway plans must assess the young person’s need for education. It would be good practice for the PEP to be maintained for any child in Year 12 /13, working with a designated member of staff e.g. college tutor. B.3 Early planning for young people to benefit from FE is crucial, and this may be an objective included in the PEP. Good practice will involve the leaving care service taking the following steps. Strategic planning • LAs should establish strategic relationships with the colleges in their area and have information about the range of courses they provide. • Colleges have protocols of how to support care leavers, including a point of contact at college (a single Designated Member of Staff who knows all CLA and sees PEPs), assistance in school/college transition, and admissions policies to guarantee interviews for care leavers. • Leaving care worker/PA attends with young person and carer any interview. • Confidentiality – ask the young person’s permission. (Default position is that the in care/care leaver status is only known by the Designated Member of College Staff). Good Practice with Individual Young People • Discuss with the young person their options during Year 11; • Gai