If a child or young person is identified as having special educational needs at school, they will have their own personal learning plan. This is a document designed to support their learning in the best ways possible.

A PLP can be created for a pupil at all stages of school life, in statutory nurseries and nursery classes in primary schools, primary, post-primary and special schools.

The personal learning plan, or PLP, includes information about learning, strengths, any difficulties and extra support, as well as achievements, hopes and aspirations. Building on knowledge and experience from home and school, it brings together the opinions of teachers, parents and learners themselves. It invites them to agree expected outcomes – the next important areas that the school will work on with the child or young person – and the progress they would like to see happening.

The PLP is reviewed at agreed intervals to ensure that the provision being made for the child is appropriate and to plan the next steps to support the child’s needs.