1. YPLA (Young People’s Learning Acadamy)

YPLA is a key stage 3&4 GCSE programme for high dependency young people often with challenging behaviour and special educational needs. Our full time alternative schools provision offers personal and social development. This includes sessions such as Emotional Awareness and Exploring Self-Image. The 10 Yr 10 and 10 Yr 11 young people are also able to work towards gaining 4 GCSEs in English, Maths and Science.

In the first year we were able to help eight students obtain up to 4 GCSE’s as well as aiding their applications for College and or apprenticeships. The NEET figures for these students were good with most leaving 4rce either into further education or training.

Last year we reached ten year 11 students and once again are NEET figures were good. We also started to work with year 10 students. Some of these year 10’s started early in the year so we were able to get them to sit GCSE Science in one year as well as completing all speaking and listening elements of GCSE English and sitting one of three modules towards their GCSE Maths.

This year we are trying to ensure even more young people achieve by sitting Functional Maths and Functional English in addition to up to four GCSEs.

Last year twenty five GCSE’s were achieved in year 11 and five GCSE’s in year 10. They included GCSE Science, GCSE Mathematics, GCSE English and GCSE English Literature. All students completed applications for college or further training and most took up their places.

 This year we are working with ten year 11 students and have the space for up to ten year 10 students, (we currently have six). We are trying to be more flexible in our approach by having a flexi group in both year groups which is for students that may also be on courses elsewhere or participating in work experience. So far we have work experience places for some of our year 11 students at BT, a child care nursery and Tesco bakery.

2. Changes Project

Unlike YPLA based at Taylor House, which is designed to pick up people who have been permanently excluded from school, the Changes programmes is designed as an intervention programme which stops young people from going off the rails and strives to keep them in mainstream education. It supports mainstream teaching staff when they reach the point where they feel there is no more they can do. Changes steps in to modify behaviours and thus helps in three specific areas.

1. It enables teachers to carry on teaching in mainstream through offering ‘time out’ for the disaffected pupil.

2. Reduces stress placed upon teachers in mainstream education

3. Helps the disaffected young person to explore issues and barriers to learning.

The topics covered are self awareness, emotional management, life and social skills and we can even offer 1-1 counselling from a psychotherapist.

Today Changes is working with 10+ schools and LAC (Looked After Children). Currently we are working towards embedding NOCN qualifications  and Functional Skills into the programme. We are also in negotiations with The Princes Trust  and exlporing the possiblity of encorperating the  XL Schools Programme within the Changes provision.  Obviously our main aim is to keep the young people in education, gradually re- integrating them back into full time mainstream. This is an essential aspect of the provision as we work with young people as young as 11yrs.

 3. PAYP (Positive Activities for Young People)

This is a programme designed for Yr 9 pupils who are still in school but have been identified as ‘at risk’. Up to 20 young people are engaged with during all school holidays and are kept through participating in positive activities, which include workshops, art, discussions, community programmes and sports. The programme works on personal and social skills and aims to builds young people’s resilience. The Yr 6 programme is designed to support young people through the transition from primary to high school.

 4. European Team Challenge 

This project is for young people, 18-25 years old to broaden their horizons and expose them to different cultures. It is aimed at giving them an insight into what it is like to live and work in another European country. The team challenge includes a 2 week community project at a location in Europe.

5. Another Level

Another Lever is a  programme designed to develop and support 16 – 19yr olds into employment and more specifically into an apprenticeship opportunties. It is run in partnership with W.S. Training and achieves its target by increasing, Confidence, Self Esteem,  Employment, Literacy & Numeracy skills.

6. Strengthening Families Programme: (4′rce co-deliver with other agencies on the Strengthening Families Programme)

Children and Parents/Caregivers are referred to the programme having been identified by various agencies as  ‘having potential to benifit from family skill development  time with each other’. The programme supports young people, parents / carers to address issues which are impacting on their learning and / or behaviour. This programme has so far worked with 84 young people and 84 parents / carers.