General Information
The Pupil Learning Centre (PLC) was created as part of the reorganisation of provision within Bury for pupils with emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. It became fully operational in September 1997. The main teaching and administrative base of the PLC is at
New Summerseat House, Bury.
Contact details are:
Summerseat House
Summerseat Lane
Ramsbottom
Bury
BL0 9UD
Tel: 01204 88 5275
Fax: 01204 88 5277
The main aim of the PLC is to enable pupils displaying emotional and social difficulties to remain within mainstream education where appropriate (through its Outreach Service), and to offer part time and full time educational provision within its Pupil Referral Units, to those pupils for whom mainstream schooling is not appropriate. The PLC endeavours to achieve this through training for schools, support for pupils in primary and high schools and part time educational provision within two of its Pupil Referral Units.
In addition, the PLC provides full time education to those pupils at Key Stage 2, 3 and 4, whose needs can no longer be met within mainstream schooling.
All pupils on the roll of the PLC, whether they remain in their schools or are attending the unit, have individual education/learning plans, which indicate their presenting problems and the proposed strategies to be used to address them. Some pupils have statements of special educational needs.
The Work of the PLC includes:
- Consultation and training for staff, both in schools and through the Local Authority (LA) Training Programme;
- General observation and advice to schools regarding the management of pupils at 'School Action & School Action Plus' of the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice;
- Involvement with pupils at 'School Action Plus' of the SEN Code of Practice in behaviour modification within schools, including in-school support, group work and mentoring;
- Advice to school staff on the implementation of recommendations as specified on the pupil's statement of Special Educational Needs;
- Part time shared placement at The ARK for Key Stage 2 pupils and at New Summerseat House for Key Stage 3 pupils at 'School Action Plus', to deal with specific problems;
- Full time/short term educational provision for permanently excluded pupils at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 from the 6th day of their permanent exclusion and until a new school is identified for them;
- Full time educational provision for permanently excluded pupils at Key Stages 2, 3 and 4 if a return to mainsream schooling is not appropriate;
- Full time educational provision for some Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 pupils who have 'statements' of Special Educational Needs but for whom mainstream schooling or specialist out borough provision is not appropriate;
- Full time educational provision for Key Stages 3-4 pupils who are considered to be 'emotionally vulnerable' and do not attend a mainstream school;
- An alternative programme of education for pupils in their final year of compulsory schooling for whom school education is no longer appropriate.
Attendance at the Units is aimed at:
- Addressing specific individual problems;
- Raising self-esteem and confidence;
- Providing an alternative high quality, motivational experience of education;
- Maintaining maximum curriculum continuity;
- Re-integration into mainstream schooling where appropriate;
- Providing the skills needed to return to or move onto mainstream/further education or the world of work;
- Forging and maintaining links with parent/carers and other relevant agencies to ensure strong working partnerships between all parties to support our pupils and young people.
Referral Routes:
- Pupils displaying difficulties in mainstream schools are referred to the PLC's Outreach Service through the school (with parental consent);
- Permanently excluded pupils are referred through the Local Authority;
- Pupils who present with long term attendance difficulties in their mainstream schools, or have moved into the area and for whom mainstream schooling is not considered appropriate, are referred through the Local Authority;
- Pupils who have 'statements' of Special Educational Needs and whose needs can no longer be met within mainstream school settings are referred by the Local Authority;
- Key Stage 4 pupils who are considered 'emotionally vulnerable' or have medical needs and are unlikely to return to mainstream schooling are referred by the Local Authority.
The Behaviour Support Outreach Service:
The primary and secondary teams are currently based in the Lancaster Suite on the site of Whitefield Community Primary School. Each school in Bury has a named PLC 'link' teacher on the Outreach Team to whom referrals are made.
The ARK Unit at Whitefield:
The ARK is a registered Pupil Referral Unit for Key Stage 2 pupils and is based on the site of Whitefield Community Primary School. This unit provides facilities for teaching 2 groups of Key Stage 2 pupils with coverage of many curriculum areas.
New Summerseat House
New Summerseat House is a registered Pupil Referral Unit for pupils in Years 7-10. This Unit provides facilities for teaching small groups of pupils with coverage of most curriculum areas
English & Literacy, Mathematics and Numeracy, Science, Information Technology, Personal, Social and Health Education, Citizenship, Humanities, Design Technology, Art & Design, Physical Education, Foundation GCSEs in various subjects, ASDAN, Food Technology, Business Enterprise and Careers.
Park House at Chesham:
This Unit is part of the provision at New Summeseat House but is based at Chesham and offers education to 2-3 small groups of pupils in Year 10 who have struggled to engage in and succeed at New Summerseat House. It offers a slightly more flexible curriculum.
The E-Pru:
The E-Pru is a registered Pupil Referral Unit for pupils at Key Stage 4 and is based in the Lancaster Suite on the site of Whitefield Community Primary School. This Unit provides facilities for teaching one group of Year 10-11 pupils who have struggled to attend their mainstream school due to emotional and/or medical conditions. The Unit offers curriculum continuity in GCSE English, Mathematics, Science, ICT, Art & Design, Physical Education, PSHE, Food Technology, Careers.
The Alternative Provision Programme (APP)
The APP Unit is a registered Pupil Referral Unit at Tenterden Street, Bury and provides a base for final year pupils in Year 11, for whom a return to school is not appropriate. The Unit brokers educational courses with the local colleges and training providers and provides on site teaching where appropriate. APP staff also offer small group sessions for their young people - mentoring, tutorials, PSHE, Careers Guidance. Its focus is to re-engage young people in the learning process and provide them with skills to enter further education, training or employment.
