Provision Outline
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The purpose of this programme is to offer Mainstream pupils an alternative
provision for those at risk of permanent exclusion. It provides an accredited
course that matches learning styles to teaching styles and works to raise
confidence and self-esteem and encourages participation and self-expression.
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Each pupil will attend for 12 weeks (1 term), and will have the opportunity to
achieve a Youth Challenge Award. Attendance and Behaviour will be
monitored throughout, and it is hoped that a good relationship between the
programme staff and the parents/guardians will develop during the course.
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During that 12-week period the amount of time based in mainstream school will
increase, as the weeks go by, (see timetable) with the end result being full
integration back in to school.
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Whilst on placement with the Virtual Inclusion Programme the young people
will have the opportunity to gain learning credits by participating in OCN units
(open college Network). These can be used for them to gain a qualification in
the future. The pupils will receive certificates after completion of the course at a
presentation to acknowledge all of there achievements.
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To provide a safe and welcoming
environment
To raise self esteem
To encourage participation in a
programme of learning
To achieve a form of accreditation
To allow young people the
opportunity to express themselves
To give young people time to
reflect on any behavioural issues
To discuss possible coping
strategies for school
To offer different forms of learning
To teach young people new life
skills
To encourage young people to ask
for help when needed
To build the confidence of young
people
To help young people reintegrate
back in to mainstream school
Aims
Objectives
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Provide a wide and varied
programme, that’s both interesting
and fun
Provide each pupil with a portfolio
that records all the good work they
do
Enforce a set of rules that the group
agrees on
Encourage respect for all group
members
Challenge all bullying, prejudiced
and discriminative behaviours
Allow 1:1 for each pupil
Pupils to build a positive relationship
with staff
Recognise different learning styles
Encourage praise and recognise
everyone’s positive actions
Maintain a good relationship with
both parents and schools to ensure
a smooth transition to reintegration
It is hoped that the programme will help to re-focus any
pupils having problems within mainstream secondary
education. It will give them time to reflect on their
behaviour, and offer them the opportunity to learn new
skills, express themselves and develop coping strategies
for their time back in school.
Referral Criteria
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Pupils will be in key stage 3 only. It is expected that most pupils will be in Year 7
or Year 8 in order to ensure successful early intervention.
Pupils will be identified by the school staff, and referred to the programme by the
Behaviour Support Specialist Teacher. Referrals should be made at least 4
working weeks prior to the programme starting.
Pupils must be judged to have a chance of a successful return to school. It is
anticipated that pupils with the most extreme behaviour problems will not be
admitted to this group.
Referral forms must be completed with up to date behaviour records including:
Reintegration Readiness Scale, IEP/IBP’s, a Risk Assessment, Pastoral Support
Programme.
Parental support and agreement to the placement is essential. Parents are
expected to meet with the team before a pupil attends, together with a teacher
from the school to share information and discuss issues. A representative from
the school is encouraged to visit during the course.
The balance of types of behaviour problems shown by pupils will be taken into
consideration when offering interviews. Due to the nature of the course delivery
the health and safety of the group is paramount when selecting pupils for
interview. Following interviews, up to six placements will be made to the course.
Pupils should be at School Action Plus and may have a Pastoral Support
Programme.
Accountability
Each pupil will be tracked once
involved in the provision.
The outcomes measured include;
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Attendance percentage –
recorded termly and yearly:
before, during and after
intervention
Exclusion days received –
recorded the same way as
attendance
The Reintegration Readiness
Scale
Self Evaluation
Behaviour score
Accreditation earned
Reintegration Readiness
The Reintegration Readiness Scale is
completed by school staff to generate a
score for each pupil.
It consists of 79 questions on the following;
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Self control and the management of
behaviour
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Social Skills
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Self-Awareness and confidence
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Skills for learning
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Approach for learning
Each pupil is scored 1 – 4 for each point
(1=never, 4=always) which generates a
score out of 312
This Scale is revisited at the end of the
provision, and then again 6 months later
Self Evaluation
Pupils complete the self evaluation 1:1
with a member of staff to discuss
each point
They score with a red pen for an initial
score, and are encouraged to
elaborate on each score given for
“now”
They are then asked to mark each point
in green for what they would like
each score to be
Staff are then able to discuss with each
pupil, how they can get from their
red score to their green score –
setting an achievable target for each
point they feel needs work
At the end of the provision pupils revisit
this process to give themselves an
end score – which can be compared
to their original score, and more
targets can be set if required
The Programme
•The pupils attend school 1
day a week for the first 6
weeks – not going to lessons,
working on basic skills
•After the half way review
pupils begin to attend
lessons, and have more time
in school during the week
•We have developed a more
“phased” approach to their
full reintegration
•The projects on offer are
reviewed at the end of every
term by staff – taking pupils
feedback in to consideration
Projects – Past & Present
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Cardiff Park Rangers Service
Fishing
Cycling and bicycle
maintenance
First Aid
Life Saving
Foreshore MXC
Cardiff Outdoor Team
Fitness
Cardiff Riding School
Cardiff City FC – Young Leader
Course
Allotment Project
Behaviour
Everyday each pupil receives a
behaviour score out of 25
They can earn up to five points for
each of the following rules;
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3.
4.
5.
Arrival
Listen & Speak
Follow Instructions
Keep hands and feet to
yourself
Remain on task
At the end of each day all pupils
discuss their points as a group
Behaviour Management
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The staff team use a consistent and fair approach, based on the rules
underpinning the Pupil Referral Unit
Young people are always given the option to make the right choice
We offer clear guidelines as to what is expected and appropriate
consequences are put in place
We use a restorative justice approach when following through with
consequences
Accreditation
We offer the following
accreditation:
• Agored Cymru (OCN Credits)
• Youth Challenge Award
• Bronze Youth Achievement
Award
• Young Leader Award
• Lord Mayors Young Achievers
Award
Youth Mentoring
After bidding to the
Neighbourhood team for a
Youth Mentor to be attached
to the provision, an
agreement has been made
with Cardiff’s Youth Service
for a Community Education
Officer to work up to 3.5
hours per week with up to 2
pupils.
They become involved for the
final 6 weeks of the VIP, and
work with the pupils for 6
weeks after – helping with
the transitional period
Changes Implemented
• Time in school to one day a
week
• Schools take part in
neighbourhood clusters
• Self Evaluation – for pupils to
score themselves
• Youth Mentors put in place
• New projects
• Created new OCN
units/accreditation
The Future
Currently funded until the end of
the 2011 academic year
Cardiff University are carrying out a
research project to establish the
viability of the provision
First year figures show:
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Exclusions down by a third
Attendance increase of 4%
Pupils attained 79% of
accreditation on offer