What do we do?
The EOTAS service provides education for permanently excluded pupils - pupils who have received a fixed-term exclusion for 15 consecutive days or more or others who may be out of school for a variety of reasons, including medical and complex mental health problems and young parents, at all key stages. This incorporates the assessment of educational, social, emotional and behavioural needs of all the pupils whilst dual-registered or on the temporary roll of the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).
The whole provision is led and managed by the head of the EOTAS service and Behaviour Support. See related links for further information on the Behaviour Support Team.
The service is delivered at three main sites:
- Cotswold Education Centre – Mangotsfield site
- Cotswold Education Centre – Severnside site
- The Barbara Russell Children's Unit/Medical Home Tuition
Cotswold Education Centre – Mangotsfield site
The Access Centre
This is a predominantly Key Stage 3 resource (accommodating no more than 12 in number) to address the educational needs of 'hard to place' BESD-statemented students, some of whom may be permanently excluded from special schools. These students will be offered a full-time personalised programme providing the National Curriculum as appropriate, emotional literacy, social skills, group work and have access to arrange multi-disciplinary and agency support. This provision, initiated in September 2002, has developed in accordance with pupil need and recruitment of staff and ongoing evaluation. From April 2005 it will be led and managed by the assistant head.
Primary PRU and Behaviour Support Team (BST)
Referral format under review. Please refer to the web site www.7side.org.uk
The Learning Centre
The Learning Centre provides the base for small group work, individual tuition and on-line virtual teaching sessions. This is predominantly for students referred to the hospital and Home Teaching Service with a breadth of medical needs, but also supports the other areas of EOTAS where one-to-one teaching is necessary. All these students are provided with short-term packages regularly reviewed to enable integration to their mainstream schools as soon as possible or a programme within the core PRU. These students have part-time teaching in line with the government statutory guidelines set by the 'Access to Education' document (Nov 2001). The Learning Centre and all individual/home tuition is led by the joint assistant heads EOTAS.
Appropriate education programmes for young parents are arranged through the Learning Centre.
Pyramid clubs
Pyramid clubs are run by volunteer club leaders who are recruited, vetted and trained by our pyramid scheme manager. The aim of these clubs is to provide a positive experience for children by raising their self-esteem and promoting their inclusion within the school. Pyramid clubs are run for 10 weeks and can accommodate up to 10 children. Enquiries should be addressed to the pyramid scheme manager.
Participation of Year 3 pupils in pyramid clubs is negotiated through multi-agency in-school meetings.
Cotswold Education Centre – Severnside site
This is for Key Stage 3 and 4 students who have been excluded from schools and/or students who require a 'package' of education when presenting a difficulty for the named mainstream school in the short term and who meet the criteria for admissions to the PRU.
Also it is for Key Stage 3 students who are working towards reintegration or integration to mainstream school. Second-time permanently excluded students will be awaiting appropriate placement into the next phase of their education, following careful assessment within the PRU.
It is aimed at Key Stage 4 students who are working towards reintegration or integration to mainstream school. Second-time PEX students will be provided with personalised programmes working towards appropriate accreditations. At this stage an alternative curriculum including a work-related programme might be more appropriate (Emotional literacy, social skills, PSHE/Citizenship and outdoor recreational pursuits will run alongside all these programmes).
A 25-hour provision will be available to all permanent and fixed-term (beyond 15 days) excluded students.
The provision on this site is being led and managed by the deputy head of EOTAS and Behaviour Support (secondary).
Please refer to the Behaviour Support Team service information regarding the developing work of this section of the secondary PRU based on this site. The assistant head leads and manages this area of support, working alongside the deputy head to enable a crossover of expertise and skills and support for the building of schools' capacity in managing students with challenging behaviour.
Children in public care (looked-after children)
From April 2005 we have two part-time teachers for looked-after children who report directly to the head of Central Teaching and Inclusion Services. Their remit is to promote and support the educational achievement and emotional/behavioural needs of children and young people 'looked after' by South Gloucestershire Council. Each school has a designated teacher for looked-after children with whom these teachers liaise. In addition there is a post within the Social Services Looked After Team which has responsibility for supporting social workers in respect of education issues for looked-after children. All services prioritise looked-after children in their work.
Education at home (elective home education)
Where parents exercise their right to educate their children 'otherwise than at school' (EHE), the local authority has a duty to ensure that the education being provided is suitable. Margaret Stobart spends some three-tenths of her time visiting families in this respect.
The Barbara Russell Children's Unit/medical home tuition
This provides appropriate educational input for pupils hospitalised for three days or more. Home tuition for pupils who are going to be absent from school for three weeks or more as a result of hospitalisation or serious or chronic illness, co-ordinated by the senior teacher at the Barbara Russell Children's Unit. At present a minimum 5 hours tuition per week is provided in accordance with DfES statutory guidance. The learning centre has overall management of the home tuition.
Links to other services
The EOTAS service and Behaviour Support seek to work co-operatively and collaboratively with all other agencies and services, including:
- Schools, Youth Services, special educational needs and social services sections within the Children and Young People's Department
- Educational Psychology Service
- Educational Welfare Service
- Connexions Service
- Other CTIS branches
- Health services
- Voluntary sector services and provider
How to refer
The education officer for Access and Social Inclusion in Education Planning and Student Support will refer all excluded students directly to the Pupil Referral Unit.
All other referrals should be made to the head of Education Other Than at School – using the request for single service form, and EOTAS addendum.
These forms can be accessed via the EOTAS administrator - tel 01454 868600