Support and inclusion

The Gateway School is situated on the second floor of Nunnery Court, and was set up in September 2013. Its purpose is to provide an alternative educational environment for the young people of Hinchingbrooke School who find accessing mainstream school/lessons challenging, and need time out of them (due to a number of complex needs) whether it is on a part-time or full-time basis.

Staff

Additional External Staff

Referral

All Students in The Gateway School have bespoke programmes to meet their individual needs and have access to mainstream staff, off site provisions and high levels of pastoral support in order to help them make progress both educationally and personally.

Referrals to the Gateway School are discussed at the fortnightly VECS meetings which are attended by Gateway staff, Heads of Year, Student Support Officers (SSOs) for each year group, staff from the Safeguarding, SEND and Attendance Teams and members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). It is here that student welfare and educational provision is discussed at length, in order to put together an appropriate plan of support. Due to the complex needs of the students in Gateway School all students will have either a Pastoral Support Plan (PSP), Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or an Early Help Assessment (EHA).  Almost all will have some outside agency input either from the Local Authority (eg Family Worker), health (CAMHS) or Social Care.

The Gateway School staff work effectively by being in close liaison with Gateway student’s parents/carers, outside agencies and with the school’s Student Services Team (also based in Nunnery Court, first floor) to ensure a co-ordinated approach and wraparound care to the needs of identified students of Hinchingbrooke School.

All students referred to Gateway School have an Individual Alternative Education Plan (IAEP) signed by the school, parent/carer(s) and student.  This is regularly reviewed and where required timetables are changed accordingly (reintegration/change of provision) to ensure that the right educational and pastoral support package is in place for the student. Unless exceptional circumstances apply, all have the required 25 hours a week timetable.  For those who do not have the full 25 hours a week, the reasons why are clearly explained and there is clear evidence that all are working towards this number of hours as a target.

Each student in Gateway is allocated a Gateway Staff member as a Tutor/Key Worker depending on what Year they are in. If students are in KS3 they are expected to take part in the Gateways Future Friday activities. These activities are designed to encourage team building, communication skills, positive engagement with staff and peers and more. These activities can range from cooking classes and activities within the school’s grounds or trips out to outdoor activity centres, mini golf, escape rooms and many more.

Students are expected to complete a 6-week programme at which time if set criteria has been met, they will expect to return to mainstream with support from staff and an agreed plan with school and home.

Curriculum

Gateway School offers alternative provision (AP) to both KS3 and KS4 via a number of provisions. Students of all years, accessing Gateway School are taught in one of two ways. Students are taught in mixed groups of Year 7 and 8 and another of Year 9 and 10. Year 11 are taught separately as a third group. Lessons are delivered by mainstream teaching staff and by the Gateway School’s Inclusion Workers. The exception to this is the delivery of Gateway led subjects such as cooking, Beauty, photography as well as Tutor Time whereby Key Stage 3 and 4 work together, where appropriate. Year 11 are the only group taught in a single year group as the preparation for exams is paramount.

The Gateway School can accommodate Key Stage 3 students for short, fixed periods of time and/or for key times of the day eg tutor time, lunchtime etc.

The Gateway School’s main aim is to return students to mainstream education. The Key Stage 4 (Years 9-11), program is focused around core lessons on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Students access school from the start of the school day and finish at 1:20pm. All students on this programme have additional support put in place and attend a variety of other off-site placements such as local colleges, work experience placements and vocational training centres. Students can also continue to access at least one mainstream option, again, if appropriate. This is decided on a case-by-case basis.

Gateway School also provides a place for identified students to access their breaks and lunches if required. (See below Gateway Schools social area used for break/lunch times by staff and students)

Progress

To monitor the progress of students who access Gateway School, termly reports are produced to track student attendance, exclusions, achievements, rewards and subject attainment levels.  Students who access Gateway School will also be required to complete the same subject assessments and exams that are delivered in the mainstream.  We also ask that all external providers match this level of termly reporting. This monitoring process is supported by our Local Authority EIO (Educational Inclusion Officer) who takes on a quality assurance role for all of Gateway Alternative Provision and acts as a ‘critical friend’. All Gateway students are required to sit Functional Skills exams in English and Maths to at least Level 1 and then Level 2 where possible.

Wellbeing and Safeguarding Services are situated on the ground floor of the Nunnery Court building beside Well Green. We work as an integrated team to support the medical and emotional needs of students and their families.  We aim to promote the positive wellbeing and safety of our students.

First Aid/Medical Assistance

In the event of a student needing to attend A&E at the hospital the parent/carer will be contacted by the Medical Room Manager and/or an ambulance called.  If parents/carers are unable to attend with the student a member of staff will attend until parents/carers arrive.

Prescribed medication can be held securely with a care plan in the First Aid Room.

If students are too unwell to remain in school parents/carers will be asked to collect.

School Counsellor and Counselling Service

Frances Barrett (DIP Couns, MBACP) provides counselling to students, alongside managing the Counselling and Wellbeing Support Services within Hinchingbrooke.

The Wellbeing Support Service has been developed to offer a wider level of support options. To access support, a wellbeing referral is completed by the Year team.  Mrs Barrett will then assess the student’s needs and provide a tailored support plan.

Support options may include: self-help, check-ins, creative therapeutic interventions, Sand Play, Drawing and Talking, or Counselling. External referrals can also be arranged if niche services are required.

Counselling sessions may be offered with either the School Counsellor (Mrs Barrett) or with one of our external counsellors, all of whom are members of a professional body and abide by an ethical framework. All sessions are confidential, and counsellors follow the school’s safeguarding policies, to ensure the safety of the young person.

We also have Trauma-informed Practitioners, providing a further alternative layer of support to students.

Home School Liaison Officer

Keron Wells works holistically with families to overcome barriers to learning, including attendance and builds co-operation and understanding to secure the best outcomes for learners.

Liaison with Social Care and the Police

The safeguarding team attend external and internal meetings with outside agencies such as social care, police, mental health services and housing to discuss support plans for students and their families. As a school we can also initiate the writing of an Early Help Assessment (EHA) when support from the Locality Team is required eg family workers, Young Peoples Workers (YPWs). EHAs can also be used to engage support from outside the Locality Team such as health services eg Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

The Safeguarding Team attend meetings to support children and young people, which may include meetings with Children’s Social Care, Police and agencies providing mental health and wellbeing support.

We work with YOUnited to access appropriate support for children and young people through a range of partner agencies.

Children in Care (CIC)

Children in Care (CIC) are also supported by a range of services both in and out of school.  There are regular reviews and plans made for their education.  Alison Setchfield, Welfare Manager, provides support and guidance for students, carers and other professionals involved in their care and support.   She is the point of contact for Children in Care in school and also supports students who were previously in care and their families.

Young Carers (YC)

Hinchingbrooke School Young Carer’s Champion works with the safeguarding team to support students who may have a caring role at home.

What defines a Young Carer?

A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family or a friend that are sick, disabled, misuses drugs or alcohol, suffers mental health

The Young Carers Group meet on a Monday once a week after school 3.25-4.25pm in Hinchingbrooke House with an action packed program over the year. This is also a chance for students to meet and make new friends who may be experiencing similar caring roles at home.

The Schools Young Carer Champion offers 1-1 high need meetings which enables the Young Carer to be  supported in school

We have achieved the Bronze Award in the ‘Young Carers in School‘ programme.

Young Carers Champion Mrs Field
SLT Young Carers Lead Mr Heath

Emergencies

If a student finds themselves in an emergency situation Student Services staff can respond immediately by providing support in the short and/or long term. Parents/carers can also seek advice and support by contacting them directly by phone or e-mail. We aim to try to respond the same day with a plan of action for the student and the family if appropriate.

Safeguarding

There are seven members of the safeguarding team who deal with concerns raised by staff, students and parents/carers as they arise. For further details please see the ‘Safeguarding Policy’ also on the school website and the Safeguarding section of this website.