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Virtual Inclusion Programme. Provision Outline.
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Provision Outline • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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.
Aims • 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
Objectives • 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 • 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; • 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; • Self control and the management of behaviour • Social Skills • Self-Awareness and confidence • Skills for learning • 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
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 Self Evaluation
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 • 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; • 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 • 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: • Exclusions down by a third • Attendance increase of 4% • Pupils attained 79% of accreditation on offer