Prospectus
Prospectus
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www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
Southend YMCA Community School ‘Standing In The Gap’ Southend YMCA Community School is a provision for young people aged between 14 and 19 who, for various reasons cannot attend mainstream schools. These reasons might include long-term illness, behaviour issues, exclusions, teenage parenthood or other circumstances that have resulted in the need for an alternative education. We bridge a gap for these young people helping them build their future through a holistic education where they acquire the knowledge, skills, experiences and qualifications to make the successful transition to adulthood. We achieve this through a curriculum that is tailored to young people from challenging circumstances, and is delivered via small class sizes capped at 12 pupils. Pupils are supported with an individual mentoring programme, a broad range of enrichment activities, careers advice and vocational support.
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Prospectus
Foreword In 2007 we started delivering education services for disadvantaged young people aimed at pupils who face barriers to achieving and surviving in a mainstream education environment. Since then we’ve had great success through our tailor made education programme in enabling these pupils to achieve their potential.
CEO of Southend YMCA - Syrie Cox Southend YMCA is a local charity with eighteen years experience of delivering quality services to disadvantaged young people. There are 121 independent YMCAs across England which are part of the YMCA worldwide movement, the largest and oldest youth charity in the world. Our mission is to ‘help young people build their future’ so that they can thrive, contribute and belong to their community. Where we identify gaps in existing provision we seek to find, appropriately match, and secure the resources necessary to fill them.
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In 2012 we established South Essex Community School Ltd as the legal entity that applied to the Department for Education to open an Alternative Provision Free School, known as Southend YMCA Community School. Our application was successful, enabling us to open in September 2013. We’ve learnt a lot in the last eighteen years, and look forward to bringing the benefits of that experience to our school. Our Headteacher, Annette Isted, is one example of that experience in action. She’s been with Southend YMCA for eleven years and has an extensive track record in devising, leading and accrediting education programmes for young people in challenging circumstances. I’ve no doubt she’ll be a great asset to the school. Syrie Cox
www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
Welcome The staff at Southend YMCA Community School recognise that every young person is different. Individuals matter to us which is why we tailor our learning programmes to individual needs and closely mentor each young person who joins us. Additional support is provided to assist our young people to make positive decisions. We endeavour to support our young people to make a seamless transition into adulthood. Annette Isted
Headteacher - Annette Isted I am delighted to be the pioneering Headteacher of Southend YMCA Community School at such an exciting time in its development. The young people that come to our school will experience a unique education, designed to help them progress smoothly into adulthood. Whatever challenges they may have faced in the past, they will be encouraged to aim for a brighter future. We help young people to build self-respect and respect for others, to develop their personal, social skills and behaviour whilst obtaining both academic and practical qualifications.
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About the School Our Vision and Aims Southend YMCA Community School’s vision is to ‘Stand in the Gap’ – helping young people to work towards a positive future by gaining the knowledge, skills, experiences and qualifications to make the successful transition to adulthood. The school addresses the educational needs and aspirations of pupils through an individually tailored curriculum. In line with the Department for Education, we believe that ‘Every parent should have access to a good local school that offers what their child needs - the right level of attention, the right ethos, and the right curriculum’. Our vision for offering children the right conditions for success is realized through our five headline aims: 1. To create well rounded, happy and resilient young people. 2. To develop children as individuals. 3. To ensure academic attainment. 4. To secure positive progression for children. 5. To provide an exemplar Free School educational community – raising attainment locally, regionally and nationally.
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The education model that we offer is designed to ensure that pupils belong, contribute, and thrive within their communities and society. We plan to grow the school gradually, reaching our maximum capacity of 50 pupils (Full-time equivalent) by 2019.
Value Based Southend YMCA Community School upholds The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international convention setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children. Our values are not exclusive to any faith, or gender indeed Southend YMCA Community School seeks to improve the lives of young people of both genders, from all faiths and of none. Whilst we operate with Christian values it is not our intention to proselytize.
www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
Guiding Values Our guiding values are centred on the belief that each pupil should be offered: • Acceptance – a sense of welcome without condemnation • Encouragement – to reach potential and overcome obstacles • Kindness – to be treated without favouritism • Provision – abundant resources to experiment and pursue developmental opportunities • Safety – to live in peace, protected from abuse and harm • Joy – the opportunity to undertake inspirational activities • Freedom – to follow hopes and aspirations
Culture The school culture is underpinned by promoting and developing pupils moral values; care about conduct, honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, tolerance and respect for the opinions, beliefs and interests of others through a soft skills set that is embedded within the entire curriculum.
We promote care, not only about what we achieve but how we achieve it. We encourage our pupils to recognise the inter-dependence of individuals and groups, to understand that life ought never to be entirely self-regarding and to appreciate that we do have obligations to others and to the community.
Parents & Carers Communicating We encourage parents to be closely involved with their child, the school and staff. We promote two way communication between parents and tutors via parent meetings, termly reports on the pupil’s progress and via newsletters. Parents are asked to encourage their child to complete their homework on time and provide support for school work. Opportunities exist for parents to become governors. Parents can find school policies not mentioned in this prospectus, including our SEN Policy, Safeguarding Procedure and Complaints Procedure, on our website. Alternatively hard copies can be obtained from the school office.
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Prospectus
“Pupils are offered a range of qualifications”
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www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
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Our Curriculum Qualifications and Success The curriculum we offer is concentrated on the key foundations for learning and academic attainment. There is a strong focus on the functional elements of English, Maths and ICT, and on developing the social skills and behaviours that are a prerequisite for learning. We aim to build the sense of self worth and motivation of disempowered and hurt young people who have low expectations and may display self defeating behaviours. Our broad curriculum incorporates sports, music, arts, media and cooking. We know from prior experience that these practical subjects have been positively received by young people, have enabled their creativity and self expression and have helped with their independent living skills. Pupils are offered a range of qualifications including a Step Up Diploma through Open College Network, GCSEs in Maths and English and short qualifications in First Aid, Health & Safety and Food Hygiene.
pupil is captured utilizing the Coping in Schools Questionnaire measuring the distance travelled.
Structure of Lessons Pupils are taught in small groups with a maximum of twelve pupils in one group, and at least two staff members (one member of staff leading
the lesson with the second member of staff supporting the pupils). Smaller classes provide greater opportunity for the pupils to access support, therefore aiding achievement. The school timetable is designed around the pupils’ needs with a start time of 9.30 as many of the pupils have struggled within mainstream schools to start on or before 9.00. The day consists of four lessons and two registration/tutorial periods at the start and end of the day, which take up around one hour each with short breaks in between with 30 minutes for lunch breaks.
Success is measured both in terms of achievement and retention rates (benchmarked against nation performance data). The personal and social development of each
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www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
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Prospectus
Further Support Pastoral support
Enrichment Activities
Pastoral support is delivered through tutorial lessons and mentor sessions with help from outside agencies as appropriate.
We have access to a broad range of extra curricular and enrichment activities through our partner charity Southend YMCA as these provide depth of learning in wider contexts. These activities are non-compulsory but we encourage all pupils to participate.
During these sessions we capture, monitor and evaluate pupils academic progress and social skills development. Short and long term goals may be set and monitored in both one-to-one mentoring and in group tutorials. Where appropriate we will initiate specialist input (for example drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, domestic violence intervention etc). It is our experience that bringing in specialist services to work with the pupils on school premises is much more effective than sending pupils to attend sessions outside the school day. The school premises provide an ideal opportunity to undertake whole group sessions. Additional sessions with individual pupils may also take place. Pupils have access to wrap around services to assist them in coping and dealing with situations and barriers that relate to wider issues outside the curriculum, through specialist staff.
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Enrichment activities may include access to art, cooking, physical activities, independent living skills workshops and homework clubs. In the past SYMCA has delivered and funded programmes such as Team YP, an Olympic Inspire programme and a distinctive Edible Histories programme, which enables pupils to explore history through food. All enrichment activities are timetabled outside of the school day. We aim to utilise all experiences as a vehicle to develop social and emotional intelligence and life skills. Positive activity programmes offer pupils the opportunity to acquire and develop leadership skills and develop qualities of active citizenship. Pupils are supported to plan, develop and run their own projects undertaking meaningful recreational activity that benefits others. This support is delivered through a range of events, peer education and volunteering projects.
www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
Vocational Tasters Pupils are given a rich range of awareness raising activities combined with careers information, guidance and taster sessions. It is our intention to challenge career ambitions, raise aspirations and expose pupils to a range of career opportunities. All Year 10 pupils undertake work placements within year 11.
Our Progression Strategy We recognize that between the ages of 14 and 19 young people have to begin to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to equip them for adult life. Without these, they will leave school with few formal academic qualifications and may be denied access to the more challenging, rewarding and satisfying careers, which will aid the transition into adulthood. Therefore our curriculum enables pupils to acquire the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to focus on outcomes with a planned approach to progression and reintegration to school or post-16 learning, further education, training or employment.
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www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
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A Safe Environment Behaviour Policy Our Behaviour Policy makes use of rewards, sanctions, and measures to help improve behaviour. All pupils sign up to the Code of Conduct Policy and adopt the Learning Agreement. We utilise a broad range of behaviour management strategies, that have been created as a result of our experience in working with young people in challenging circumstances. The policy clearly sets the standard of behaviour expected of pupils at the school and how that standard will be achieved. It outlines the school rules, anti-bullying measures and disciplinary penalties for breaking the rules. Rewards for good behaviour are clearly identified. We are very mindful that the implementation of the Behaviour Policy needs to reflect and consider the pupils’ circumstances and provide ample opportunities to learn from their behaviour. There is no school uniform but pupils are expected to dress in clean, suitable, modest attire. Our full Behaviour Policy is available on our website.
Our Site
In order to deliver the proposed curriculum we aim to offer a welcoming, light, airy, and inspirational space, providing pupils and teachers with a stimulating learning environment.
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Our work with psychologists has helped us understand that many young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties have failed to make secure attachments in infancy and live in chaotic circumstances which negatively affects functioning. The need to feel secure, organised and contained is considered to be an essential prerequisite to effective learning – this is provided through an ordered, therapeutic space. Safeguarding our pupils is of paramount importance so the site is fitted with secure access and CCTV monitoring – all adults who come into contact with pupils will be subject to DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks. Within the building itself we provide classroom spaces, interview rooms for mentoring and parent meetings, ICT facilities and a training kitchen/life skills space. External social areas meet the needs of pupils during breaks and before and after school. The school operates from The Ticket House, 110 East Street, Southend-on-Sea. The school site is easily accessible by public transport and is on main bus routes (7,9,20,21 and 29) into and out of town. It is opposite Prittlewell railway station.
www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
Southend YMCA Community School
Senior Leadership Our School Leadership team has a wealth of experience and expertise in community projects and education.
Ron Wright – Chair of Governors Ron Wright is chair of Southend YMCA. Under his dynamic leadership the charity has grown significantly, reaching over 2000 vulnerable people per year. Beneficiaries have received a range of much needed services including housing, education, recreation and health & wellbeing provision. During Ron’s commercial career he was an international negotiator and latterly responsible for the corporate training and graduate development programme for a worldwide logistics company. He has retired from commercial life and now runs his own social housing project for excluded adults.
Syrie Cox – Corporate Member on the Governing Body Syrie Cox is the Chief Executive of Southend YMCA. She has eleven years experience in executive roles in education, training, housing and award winning clinical provision for young people with mental health problems and transitional difficulties.
Syrie has qualifications in social work, youth work and mental health. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in service innovation (mental health) and received a 1st class Honours degree in Social Work Studies. She holds a Diploma in social work, a certificate in youth and community work and a combined certificate in counselling and skills therapy. Syrie is also a Councillor for Leigh Town.
Annette Isted – Headteacher Annette joined the school from Southend YMCA where she was Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Education & Training Manager. She has 19 years experience of working within both formal and informal education settings across the public and voluntary sectors. Annette has a specialist background in ethics and criminal justice and is a Justice of the Peace. She holds an MA in The Ethics of Policing and Criminal Justice, a BA (Hons), a Post Graduate Certificate in Education and an assessors and verifiers award.
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Admissions Admissions Policy Southend YMCA Community School is a publicly funded Alternative Provision School. Pupils under the age of 16 can only be referred to the school by the local authority, by their mainstream school or other relevant agencies. Pupils and parents of pupils between the ages of 16 and 19 can apply to the school themselves. Our referral arrangements are designed to ensure fair access to the school. Looked after Children (including previously Looked After Children) and children with statements of Special Educational Needs in which Southend YMCA Community School is named will be given priority. The full policy including details of the referral process is available on our website or by contacting the school office. Key Stage Four Eligibility Criteria Children aged 14-16 can only be admitted to an Alternative Provision Free School through being referred by Local Authorities, Schools and Academies using their existing referral powers or duties. Parents cannot choose to send their child to Southend YMCA Community School. Local authorities, schools and academies act
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as ‘Commissioners’ – the Commissioner is responsible for referring the pupil where the following conditions apply: • Local Authority – For a young person permanently excluded or who cannot attend mainstream education • Academy or school – For a young person who has a fixed period exclusion or their behaviour needs improving to prevent permanent exclusion Referrals are received from commissioners where alternative provision is required to provide: • Education for pupils who are showing a level of disengagement from mainstream provision which is placing them at risk of permanent exclusion or; • Education for pupils who have been permanently excluded from mainstream provision or; • Education for pupils who have difficulty in securing a school place or; • Education for pupils who have a fixed period exclusion or their behaviour needs improving to prevent permanent exclusion. Applications are not restricted by location. The Southend YMCA Community School will offer short and long term placements delivered both through full and part time models.
www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk | info@southendymca.org.uk | 01702 431676
Post 16 Eligibility Criteria Self referrals are received directly from the young people or their carers and in some instances by the local authority, schools, academies and SENCOs. Referrals for this provision include direct applications, via a school teacher or SENCO where post compulsory education is required to provide;
We can assess the child’s needs and help to support their individual learning development. Applying to our Community School: www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk Tel: 01702 431676 Email: info@southendymca.org.uk
• Education for young people with statements of Special Educational Needs; • Education for young people who have been unable to achieve level 2 qualification; (which is equivalent to a GCSE) • Education for young people who have difficulty in learning within large environments such as mainstream colleges; • Education for young people who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not have achieved any formal qualifications. Acceptance of Offer After we accept an offer for a pupil to attend the school, we arrange an informal meeting with the parent and pupil in order to get to know them better and vice versa.
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South Essex Community School Ltd trading as SouthendYMCA Community School. Company no: 7954295 SouthendYMCA Charity no: 1102837. Company no: 5051166 YMCA England Charity No: 212810. Company No: 73749 SouthendYMCA Community School TheTicket House, 110 East Street Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 6LH School Office Eco Hub, 2A St Johns Road Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 7JZ Tel: 01702 431676 Email: info@southendymca.org.uk Web: www.freeschool.southendymca.org.uk