Key Stage 3 Full Time

North Herts ESC makes full time education provision for students in years 7 to 9 who are permanently excluded or at risk of permanent exclusion from secondary schools in the North Hertfordshire area.

The Centre curriculum is based upon the National Curriculum, although there is no requirement for the ESC to deliver the National Curriculum, as it is hoped that most students attending will return to mainstream schools. We offer a broad, diverse and inclusive curriculum which has been linked to the local mainstreams in order to ensure continuity with teaching and learning.

Students are admitted following a referral from school, a Centre Outreach worker or from the local area Integration Officer.

Respite Placement
Students will be offered a short-term placement at the Centre where we work proactively with schools and parent/carers, helping the student to develop behaviour management strategies in order to successfully return to their school.

Alternative to Permanent Exclusion or Permanent Exclusion.
Working with schools, parent/carer and local authority we seek to find the correct pathway for students. This could be a Managed Move to another mainstream setting or supporting a parent/carer through the process of an EHC Plan application. This outcome could mean a placement at a specialist provision. Once a place is agreed, Centre staff will arrange an admissions meeting with parent/carer and Head of Centre.

On starting at the Centre, students undergo a thorough Baseline Assessment process which is aimed at identifying key strengths and areas for development to help in the identification/confirmation of any possible learning needs. The outcomes are used to inform teacher planning, assist in the setting of targets and may also identify a need for referral to an Educational Psychologist for further investigation.

Therefore, each student is taught at their own level either individually or as part of a group. All students are challenged and extended. A number of students who attend the centre arrive with low levels of self esteem. Staff therefore focus on developing relationships with students and building on areas of success, concentrating on what the student can do, this can be in the form of group work or 1-1 intervention sessions.

The Centre runs similarly to a mainstream school but with slightly different timings to the day. Students are expected to attend from 8.45am until 2.30pm daily and will follow a secondary school style timetable with subjects taught by specialist staff. Students are taught in two small groups, maximum size of five students, and each group would usually be supported by a member of the Centre support staff.

Free school meals are provided for all students. Students moving back to mainstream school are supported by Centre staff and their reintegration is carefully planned through meetings with the receiving school and the multidisciplinary team around the child. Assessment outcomes, advice and support strategies are also discussed at this time.

Through specialist guidance and support, group work, workshops and the benefit of other professional services it is the intention to equip students with understanding, knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed. We encourage a curiosity about life and provide students with the belief that they can be successful in life. We are both proactive and reactive to student needs. We believe that the curriculum operates beyond the classroom and school trips are an integral part of Centre life. These trips
give students the cultural capital and experiences essential to progress to Key Stage 4.