Pendlebury is a Pupil Referral Unit which provides for students of secondary age, who are displaying anxieties and emotional difficulties with regard to their schooling. The emphasis of the unit is to maintain or re-establish attendance at mainstream school wherever possible.

Pendlebury aims to help students identify and gain insight into their difficulties and help them to develop strategies and behaviours which will enable them to cope more effectively in their mainstream school. It aims to build self-esteem and confidence to enable students to make positive decisions about their future.

Students remain on roll at the referring school throughout their time at Pendlebury and continued school involvement is an important part of the total package of support.

In exceptional cases, if, after period of assessment, it is felt that a student's needs cannot be met within a mainstream school setting, and there is a need for long-term specialist therapeutic input the procedure for Formal Assessment will be jointly initiated with school.

• Outreach - to maintain pupils in mainstream or return to mainstream
• Off site support - Years 8, 9, 1 0 and 11.

• Support for pupils in secondary school.
• Exceptionally, a few pupils may be admitted into the Pendlebury Unit.

To continue to maintain links with mainstream schools:

• by staying on their register;
• by arranging planning meetings and consultations;
• by attending on a part-time basis;
• by providing opportunities to re-access (possibly on a part-time basis).

Return to school within 12 months a realistic and achievable aims.
Year 10 and 11

Preparation for post compulsory education for those pupils who are unlikely to return into mainstream.

Exceptionally, some pupils may not have a school place and may be supported by other "education otherwise" provision, eg. ITSS or on a college course.

• EP referral should be seen by EP in mainstream at Stage 3 or referred with EP's agreement if seen by CAMHS.
• If attending school Head's agreement to dual registration and commitment to return to mainstream within one year.
• Devereux (administered pre-admission) should score above a scaled score of 14 (Centile 91) on either or both of the following sub-scales: Depression, Physical Symptoms/Fears

• Anxiety: (Main)

• Emotional Problems: (Main)

• Depression: (Main)

• Victim of bullying

• Under achievement:

If the referral is accepted a meeting will be convened by the mainstream school. This needs to involve the parents, Head of year and any other appropriate agencies which may be involved. At this meeting a plan of action and support will be agreed and a date set for a review of progress made. A copy of this agreement will be sent to the parents, the school and any other agencies involved. The initial review will take place after six weeks, further reviews will then take place on a tem-fly basis.

Placement at the Pendlebury Centre

If a referral is felt to be appropriate and a place at Pendlebury is available, the Headteacher will contact the student's school to arrange a time for the student and parents to visit the Centre. At this meeting there will be a opportunity to discuss any concerns and to arrange a date for the pupil to start. An Individual Education Plan will also be drawn up at this meeting.

During the first four weeks at Pendlebury a detailed assessment will be made of the student s ability and attainments in order that a clear profile can be drawn up of the students academic strengths and needs. In addition, a detailed evaluation of social and behavioral skills will be made. The student will be actively involved in this assessment and will be encouraged to participate fully.

After four weeks a review meeting will be held with the student, parents and any other agencies involved to discuss the students strengths and needs and any other progress made in order that a more specific individual plan of action can be implemented to support the students eventual, successful reintegration to mainstream school. The meeting will be chaired by the Headteacher with overall responsibility for Pendlebury. Subsequent review will then place every 1 1/2 tenns.

• Individual Counselling and help for students in schools
• Help and guidance for both teachers and parents
• Part-time attendance at the Centre whilst continuing to attend mainstream school Short-term, part-time attendance at Pendlebury when a student's mainstream school placement has broken down, in order to assess and work with students with more complex difficulties to enable them to return to mainstream school.
• Alternative educational prevision for Years 10 and 11 when a return to mainstream school is neither feasible nor appropriate.

Two teaching groups run at Pendlebury:

The morning group runs from 9.15ain until 12.00 noon on all weekdays. This caters for 20 students in Years 7-10.

The afternoon group runs from 12.45pm until 3.15pm; some students may attend outside this time if following extra curricular courses. This caters for 20 students in Year IO and II.

Curriculum

Wherever appropriate liaison will take place with the referring mainstream school to enable students to follow an appropriate and relevant curriculum and to enable them to complete any important coursework assignments.

Core Curriculum

All students at Pendlebury follow a Core Curriculum in the following subjects:

It is recognised that for some students in Years 10 and I I a return to mainstream school may neither be feasible or appropriate and that they will complete their education at Pendlebury. In Years IO and II students follow courses which will lead to:

GCSE Examinations in the following subjects:

They also follow courses which will lead to AEB Basic Skills Qualifications in following subjects:

• Communications
• Health, Hygiene and Safety
• Science

They also have the opportunity of gaining the Three Cross Emergency Aid Awards which are devised by the St John Ambulance. Students following Food Technology are entered for the Food Hygiene Basic Skills Certificate. Students can also work towards NPRA'S.

All students in Year 11 have the opportunity to participate in a work experience organised through Trident.

All subjects are taught to National Curriculum Guidelines. An individual programme is devised for Mathematics and English to enable students to work at their own ability and pace. Other subjects are usually class taught, but with learning activities devised to cater for difference in ability.

Careers Education

All students in Years 9-11 will receive Careers Education and guidance from the Careers Officer will responsibility for Pendlebury. Students in Year I I will receive individual counselling on a regular basis. A careers library has been set up within Pendlebury to enable students to have access to a wide range of information and advice.

Links with Further Education

From September 1998 all Year I I students will have the opportunity to attend vocational courses at Stockport College. They will all be following a GNVQ at Ridge Danyers College which will cover foundation modules and an Information Technology course.

Staffing

The Centre is led by a Headteacher and Senior Teacher, together with 3.3 fte teaching staff.

When it is decided that a student is ready to return to mainstream school, the process is carefully planned with the agencies involved and is usually gradual. Initially, students will be supported in school by a teacher from Pendlebury and as their confidence and ability to cope increases, this support is gradually withdrawn. Close contact is maintained between the mainstream school and Pendlebury so that any problems that may arise can be dealt with quickly and effectively. The pace of reintegration is largely determined by the ability of the student to cope. Full reintegration for some students may only take a few weeks, whilst others may rake longer, often several months.

Should there be any problems arising after the student has returned to full time mainstream education Pendlebury staff can still be contacted for help and advice.

When a student returns to their mainstream school a record of their attainments and achievements made whilst at Pendlebury will be forwarded for their Record of Achievement. All Year 11 students leaving Pendlebury will have a National Record of Achievement.