West Lancashire

Personalised Curriculum

Support Service

THE ACORNS

CENTRE

Information

CONTENTS

Page

Mission Statement3

How do we support pupils?3

The Curriculum4 - 5

Behaviour/Code of Conduct6

Smoke Free Policy7

Monitoring and recording progress8

Pastoral Care9

Contacts10

Daily Routines11 - 12

Attendance/Absence/Alternative Provision13

Holidays and Leave in Term Time13

Illness in Centre13

Fire Procedures14

WholeSchool Food and Drink Policy15

Staff16

Holiday Plan17

Address/phone number/e-mail address18

Map19

MISSION STATEMENT

‘Learning to Achieve’

Learning is a life long experience!

We offer a caring, enriching, educational environment for pupils who have experienced difficulties in school. In our Centre pupils are accepted, valued and feel safe. We assess their personal and educational needs and plan for progress. They learn to manage themselves and their relationships with others. We give time to pupils and teach strategies so they can reflect on and reassess their difficulties, build accurate self-esteem and develop meaningful relationships.

We provide an exciting and challenging curriculum designed to capture pupils’ interest and prepare them for life. We aim to improve each pupil’s academic performance, their ability to learn and their social and emotional skills so that they are able to return to school, further education or enter the world of work.

Every adult is highly motivated and committed to the pupil’s wellbeing. Professional development is a key priority.

Quite simply we are ‘all in it together’ learning to achieve.

How do we support pupils?

INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES

For pupils experiencing difficulty in coping in their mainstream school for a variety of reasons and may be in danger of exclusion. Intervention provides a time to enable them to access specialist intervention to support them to remain in mainstream education. We work closely with their mainstream school.

Pupils Permanently Excluded from MainstreamSchool

A period of assessment is followed by intervention programmes to address issues/behaviours and curriculum support in order to achieve successful re-integration into appropriate provision.

Also:Pupils new to area

The Curriculum

Provision is varied and designed to meet the needs of the individual student through a personalised programme. A student’s programme may include some of the following:

Key Stage 3

Pupils in Year 7, 8 and 9 follow the National Curriculum programmes required in our setting together with additional enrichment activities.

Main subjectsEnglishMaths

ScienceICT

PSHEHumanities

Religious Education

Enrichment ActivitiesArtCookery

SportOutdoor Activities

Life SkillsSEAL programme

Enterprise activities

Key Stage 4

Provision is varied and designed to meet the needs of the individual student through a personalised programme.

All StudentsEnglish

Maths

Science

Preparation for Working Life Certificate

OptionsICT

Food Technology

ASDAN

Art

Engineering

PSHE/SEAL

Vocational ProgrammesWork Experience

Building & Construction

Health & Beauty

Beauty Therapy

Electronics

Animal Care

Fisheries Management

Music technology

Performing Arts

While at the Centre, students may work towards and achieve a range of qualifications such as

Entry Level Certificates
GCSE / Level 1 and 2 Certificates
Vocational qualifications
Functional Skills

A key element in the provision is partnership with other professionals and providers.

Here is just a sample:

Mainstream schools
Youth and Community Service
Education Business Partnership
Local businesses
EdgeHillCollege
Rock and River
MyerscoughCollege
BDS
CAST NW
Fixit
4 Tech Moto
Learnfit

Behaviour

At the Acorns we aim to provide an environment in which students feel safe and confident, where they can develop self respect and respect of others. Our Code of Conduct is an important part of this process.

Code of Conduct

To show respect for each other by listening attentively and speaking politely.

To follow staff instructions with regard to work and behaviour.

To resolve conflict without use of physical violence.

To behave in a way that is not aggressive deliberately annoying or provocative.

To treat the property of others and the building with respect.

To follow the safety rules in the Centre and during travel and off site activities.

To have good attendance.

To follow no smoking policy.

Not to bring any illegal substances into Centre or any alternative provision.

Transport Code of Behaviour

Be ready before the taxi is due and ensure that you are able to see/hear the taxi has arrived. Ensure the taxi driver is able to establish that you are aware they have arrived.
Always wear a seat belt
Students travelling alone, sit in the back of the taxi.
Do not distract the driver.
No smoking, eating or drinking in the taxi
Listen to and follow instructions so everyone keeps safe
Use only the taxi provided for you
Do not ask the taxi driver to transport anybody else
Do not ask the taxi driver to transport anywhere other than the agreed route.
Use taxi/transport respectfully – be polite

All staff are trained in Team Teach techniques and use a range of strategies to manage and defuse any potentially serious incidents due to threatening, aggressive or dangerous behaviour. In very specific circumstances staff may use physical intervention to prevent injury, damage to property, absconding or serious disruption to good order in the school. This occurs very rarely but if an incident has taken place parents/carers are informed and details are recorded.

If a pupil threatens or assaults anyone in the Centre, persists in abusive behaviour or brings in illegal substances or offensive weapons, they will be removed from the premises and may be prosecuted.

Smoke Free Policy at The Acorns Centre

The Acorns Centre has a Smoke Free (No Smoking) policy. Staff and pupils are not allowed to smoke on site at any time. This policy also applies to those times when pupils are off site for curriculum activities and when being transported to and from school.

Cigarettes, smoking materials, lighters are not to be brought to school.
If pupils inadvertently bring cigarette smoking materials into school and hand them in to staff immediately they will be returned at the end of the school day.
If it comes to our attention late that a pupil is in possession of cigarettes, smoking materials, lighters then they must be handed in to a member of staff. These materials will not be returned to the pupil. Parents have the option of collecting them from school or instructing us to dispose of them.
If a pupil smokes on site at any time then that pupil will be sent home for the rest of the day.
Parents will be contacted to confirm that they are being sent home.
If normally brought in by taxi the pupil will have to make their own way home by public transport. Bus/train fare will be provided. Alternatively parents can collect their child.
If a pupil leaves the school site at any time during the day it will be treated as the end of their school day, they have chosen to leave, they are making their own way home. A zero attendance will be recorded for the relevant session.
Persistent refusal to comply with the smoking policy will result in a fixed term exclusion for the pupil concerned and parents will be asked to attend a meeting to discuss the matter.

Monitoring and recording progress

Targets are set and reviewed at least half termly by pupil and staff.

A Progress Report for parents/carers is completed at the end of each Term.

The involvement and support of parents/carers is essential. Regular communication is encouraged through

Contact with keyworker by phone/home visit.
Telephone contact with Headteacher/staff at Acorns Centre
Visits to the Acorns Centre for formal or informal meetings. (Please phone to arrange time.)

Celebrating Progress

To increase motivation, self esteem and good attendance we seek constantly to recognise and celebrate achievement through :

Merit system
Attendance Certificates/vouchers
Displays of work
Praise phone calls and letters home
Praise phone calls and notes to “home” school
Rewards a s part of individual pupils targets
Achievement Certificates

Re-integration

Our aim is to ensure pupils are re-integrated successfully into provision appropriate to their needs and in which they can succeed. This can be through

Return to current mainstream school
Transfer or re-integration into another school
Participation in a Personalised Learning Programme when at least 50% of time is spent in mainstream school/college/training placement.

Pastoral Care

All our programmes are centred on a positive and supportive approach to developing young people emotionally, behaviourally and socially. Each pupil is allocated a keyworker who supported by the teaching staff, is involved in assessing need, identifying appropriate interventions and programmes and monitoring, reviewing and evaluating progress.

Central to this is establishing appropriately supportive, encouraging and challenging relationships. The keyworker will also liaise with parents/carers and the mainstream school when applicable. The individual nature of our approach, together with the high staff/pupil ratio enables staff to have a good understanding of the needs of all our pupils and be able to support their progress.

Every school is required to have named members of staff in relation to Child Protection/Safeguarding and Looked After Children. At The Acorns Centre the staff members are:

Child Protection/SafeguardingJane Eccleston

Looked After ChildrenSteve Lomax

All visitors to the Centre are asked for identification and are required to sign the Visitors book and will not be left unsupervised with any children.

There are procedures in place to support pupils and families if there are any safeguarding issues. The Child Protection Policy is available for parents to read.

Contacts

What to do if you have a query/complaint

Each pupil is allocated a key worker who, as well as supporting the pupil, acts as the main link between parents/carers and the Centre. Parents/Carers will have access to the appropriate Keyworker by telephone.

If you wish to discuss any matter or concern further please contact a member of the Senior Management Team:-

Mrs J Eccleston-Headteacher

Mr S Lomax-Deputy Headteacher

If you are not satisfied with the response you have received you should contact Mrs L Hurley, Service Manager, Alternative Complementary Education and Residential Service, County Hall, Preston, PR1 8RJ.

Further details on the complaints procedure are available on request.

Parents/Carers are always welcome to visit the Centre to discuss their child’s needs/progress. Please ring first to arrange an appointment.

Support for Parents/Carers

Keyworkers – telephone contact or arranged meeting in Centre or home visit.
Counselling – our school counsellor is available by appointment.
Family support Service – provided through our Support Officer – contact Headteacher for information.

THE ACORNS CENTRE

DAILY ROUTINES

A.M.

8.45Staff briefing – Common Room

KS39.00- 10.30Lesson/Curriculum time

10.30- 10.45Break

10.45- 12.30Lesson/Curriculum time

12.30 – 1.00Lunch

1.00 – 3.00Lesson/curriculum time

KS49.00 - 9.30Community Time

9.30- 11.45Lesson/Curriculum time

11.45- 12.00Break

12.00- 1.30Lesson/Curriculum time

1.30 - 2.00Social time including lunch

N.B.Times for off site activities and courses may differ from above. All pupils have a personal timetable.

Dress Code

KS3

Boys:BlackSchool Trousers

White or pale blue shirt

Royal blue sweatshirt (provided by school)

Black shoes/trainers

Girls:As above with black skirt or trousers

Pupils on Respite programmes attend in their mainstream school uniform. (As it is not necessary to wear caps or hoods in the building pupils are asked to remove hats and hoods whilst inside.) Students may have specific dress codes/uniform for some of their programme i.e. hairdressing (uniform), construction (boots).

KS4

Although for KS4 there is no set uniform, students should attend school appropriately dressed i.e. no offensive slogans on T-shirts, no ‘bare’ midriffs, etc.

Break/Lunchtimes

Breakfast is available during Community Time.
Supervised activities at break times include pool and football.
Lunches are provided for those entitled to free school meals. All other pupils may purchase a lunch for £1.00 or bring a packed lunch which can be eaten in the Common Room.
At some locations i.e. College, pupils can purchase food or take a packed lunch.

Pupils must remain on the school site for the whole of the school day. For Health and Safety reasons it is a serious offence for a pupil to leave the school site without the permission of a member of the Senior Management Team.

Attendance/Absence from Centre/alternative provision

We believe that regular and punctual attendance is essential if pupils are to receive the maximum benefit from educational opportunities. We aim to develop positive relationships between home and school to support good attendance.

We ask you to telephone school before 9.00 am to let us know if your child will be absent.

If we do not receive a telephone call we will try to contact home to find out the reason for the absence.

We ask that you support us in our aims and give written notification of any absence known about in advance.

If poor attendance develops a referral will be made to our Pupil Support Officer and if necessary to Educational Welfare Service.

Holidays and leave in Term Time

As a parent you do not have an automatic right to take your child out of school during term time.

A request for leave of absence needs to be made to school and school may refuse permission if it feels the absence is not justified or might be harmful to your child’s education.

Illness in the Centre

Students who become ill or have an accident in the Centre should inform a member of staff.

The Centre is able to offer basic first aid and deal with minor ailments, but it is not possible to provide paracetamol, other medication or to apply lotions or creams.

There are no facilities for caring for students who are seriously ill.

When students need to go home the school will telephone a parent or emergency contact and make appropriate arrangements.

NB For this reason a ‘current’ emergency contact is essential and pupils will not be able to continue attending school without such a contact being made available.

Students are never sent home without contact with a parent or other responsible person having been achieved.

Because there is no one in the Centre with full medical training, we ask parents of students who are unwell not to send them to school but to take them to the doctor for advice.

Students who experience problems with Asthma are reminded that they should carry their personal inhalerswith them at all times.

FIRE PROCEDURES

Pupil Instructions

On suspicion or discovery of a Fire

Inform a member of staff and follow instructions given.

If you hear the Fire Alarm

STOP what you are doing
Quietly leave the building by the nearest exit
Walk to the Assembly Point
Line up quietly and wait for staff to check the register
Do not re-enter the building until you are told to do so

REMEMBER

If you are not in your classroom when you hear the alarm, stop what you are doing and leave the building by the nearest door.

Keep away from the building and walk to join your class.

DO NOT re-enter the building

The Acorns Centre

West Lancashire Personalised Curriculum Support Service

WholeSchool Food and Drink Policy (Summary)

The Acorns Centre is aware thatyoung people need a healthy diet for normal growth and development. We are also aware of the consequences of Unhealthy Eating. Poorly nourished pupils are more likely to have behavioural, emotional and academic problems at school.

Our aims include:

develop and maintain an ethos which promotes ‘a healthy choice a wise choice’
promote a pleasant and sociable dining experience that will enhance the social development of all pupils
encourage a balanced diet - in line with the national nutrition guide ‘The Balance of Good Health’
take into account and accommodate dietary requirements
develop healthy eating and drinking habits that will last a lifetime
encourage fluid intake

Parental Responsibility

It would be appreciated if:

Pupils were encouraged to have a healthy breakfast before they come to school.
Any lunches/food/drink brought into school followed healthy eating guidelines.

Food and drink

Community time: Toast, a variety of fruit, fruit juice, tea, coffee etc are available in the Centre.

Lunches: Lunches provided by Acorns catering officer are available for pupils by arrangement and are free for those entitled to free school meals. On occasions ‘Food Technology’ lessons provide lunches, pupils are encouraged to try the food available and make a donation if they so wish to charity.

Drinks: Water is freely available, fruit juice.

Equal Opportunities

The healthy eating and drinking systems in our school will be accessible to all pupils regardless of race, gender and SEN.

STAFF

HeadteacherJane Eccleston

Deputy HeadteacherSteve Lomax

Centre ManagerDeborah Lawrence

KS4 MathsTeacherRob Jenkins
KS4 English Teacher/SENCoGayle Worswick

KS3 Teacher/

Assessment Co-ordinatorGary True

KS4 Science TeacherScott Dunn

KS4 ICT TeacherKate Bott

ACERS Medical Maths TeacherKath Donald

ACERS Medical English TeacherLisa Molyneux

ACERS Medical Science TeacherLouise Green

ACERS Medical ICT TeacherAmanda Vernon

Engineering TeacherSarah Beesley

Counsellor/KeyworkerMarcella Teevan

Pupil Support OfficerAlison Firth

Family Support WorkerPamela Walsh

KeyworkersAnita Bicker

Yvonne Bolger

Joyce Carrick
Janet Crawford

Cath Duckett

Janet Lewis

Bev O’Brien

Carol Rooney

Administration StaffPam Jaeger

Julie Rimmer

Helen Staziker

Buildings MaintenanceJeff Denison

Management CommitteeKathleen Cooper (Chair)

Jane Eccleston

Del Ellis

Bev Harrison

Andrea McCann

Carol Rooney

Lorimer Russell Hayes

Francis Williams