1. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! Securing Positive Futures for our Students Transitioning into Post 16 Education and Beyond Jane Reason (The Albany KS4 PRU, Bury St Edmunds) Ola Anderson (West Suffolk College) Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

2. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! The Albany – KS4 PRU Serves rural but mostly deprived communities in West SuffolkWest Suffolk Students can travel over an hour to get to school each day Increased student numbers: from 13 in 2011/12 to 33 now Currently 100% Pupil Premium High level of disengagement prior to referral (80% to 90% PA) Low achievement at KS2 (average 3c, none above 4b, many P-Scales) High levels of poor literacy (70% of current cohort have identified literacy need, all show a poverty of language) Increasing complexity (learning & SEMH) with a significant number requiring 1:1 intervention Increasing number with diagnosed ASD High percentage LAC (currently 6 out of 32)) Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

3. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! The Albany is in Bury St Edmunds Students mostly come from within the Western Area Some students also come from Ipswich and in nearby Norfolk villages and towns

4. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! In the beginning … and then … High NEET Challenges of Albany students accessing ‘mainstream’ learning at WSC Improved communication channels Joint training Allocation of some LSA time from The Albany for students at WSC Greater understanding of needs and challenges Applications to WSC for Post 16 - overcoming any perceived hurdles Lottery funded ‘Moving On’ worker ceased in 2014 LA funded WSC throughout 2015 to work with Albany and Kingsfield Y11 students and support successful transition to post 16 Albany: successful bid for Vocational Progression Leader (Jan 2016) to work with providers, families and young people throughout the year during KS4 and KS5 to work with LA and other agencies to enhance local offer throughout KS4 and KS5 Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

5. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! PRUs  Post 16; The Challenges of Transition Securing Post 16 engagement Social and emotional readiness Awareness and confidence in the new environment and its systems New relationships; peers and adults Family support Resolving practical challenges – e.g. transport Communication About learning needs and risk management strategies Between establishments, the young person and their families Hopes, expectations and fears Appropriate Opportunities What? Where? When? Access to courses: variety, appropriateness and required qualifications Avoiding the ‘drop out’ Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

6. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! Securing Post 16 Engagement: Partnerships for Success The Albany, our students and their families Vocational Progression Leader ( A full time role funded by the Eastern Counties Educational Trust) Bespoke Vocational Offer at KS4 Passport to their future Support for young people and their families; throughout the year and beyond KS4 Past Post 16 Albany students, as mentors and inspiration for current Albany students The Albany and the Multi-agency Teams Transition Coaches Apprenticeships lead Independent, targeted IAG West Suffolk College and The Albany Developing bespoke courses to meet the needs of Albany students in years 10 and 11 Streamlining Communication Information about learning needs and behaviour plans Identified staff working closely together Working alongside Albany staff and students to support transition in Year 11 Summer Holiday activities Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

7. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! Securing Post 16 Engagement: Passport to their Future Building literacy, numeracy and communication skills Personal development to build resilience, team work, confidence and much more Qualifications to ‘open doors’ and build opportunities Experiences of a range of work placements and vocational activities to grow their CV Knowledge of opportunities and how to engage with them Support for families so they can help their child Growth mindset! Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

8. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! Avoiding the ‘Drop Out’ With the young person and their family Targeted support in y11 IAG to enable good decision making Support for applications, interviews etc Planning for transition with the whole family Support throughout holiday periods and into y12 and y13 (where needed) Signposting of services to enable access to support Regular ‘check in’ and opportunities for ‘drop in’ Enabling relationships with key staff within post 16 destination Consistent point of contact Increasing opportunities over the next 3 years Build greater diversity of traineeships, apprenticeships, post 16 academic and vocational learning centres Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

9. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! Avoiding the ‘Drop Out’ West Suffolk College WSC Vocational Taster Carousel for Yr 9s WSC Yr 11 Vocational Taster Days in May Yr 11 – 1 hr/week – IAG/”Getting ready for College life”, expectations, decision making, teambuilding National Citizenship Service summer term and summer break activities When student starts College in September, continued contact and support – drop-ins, liaison with tutors, support phone contact with students and parents Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

10. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! WSC 14-16 Progression – 2014/15 203 students attended - no students were excluded, 98% retention Average attendance for students on 14-16 programmes was 88% 19 schools, PRU’s and other alternative provision providers 100% Year 11 progression: 80% to WSC 7% to apprenticeships, 4% to 6 th Form 9% other FE provider 31% progressed on to Level 2 programmes Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

11. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! WSC 14-16 Progression – 2014/15 Progression to: Animal CareFootball Scholarship Art & DesignGame Keeping Hair & BeautyHealth & Social Care BusinessMotor Vehicle BricklayingMedia Catering Painting & Decorating CarpentryPublic Services EngineeringScience Tree Surgery Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

12. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! National Citizen Service - Transition Support Students are able to take part in the NCS programme The programme offers students a four week programme of: Team Building Employability skills Social Action Project Graduation Recognised certificate from employers and universities Students are able to settle into the college environment more effectively and receive ongoing transition support http://www.westsuffolkcollege.ac.uk/courses/national-citizen-service- suffolk.aspx Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision

13. The Albany Believe; Engage; Achieve. Thumbs up to a new beginning! Outcomes we aim to achieve Reduced NEET (16+) Improved outcomes post 18 Improved engagement with lifelong learning Reduction in worklessness through Increased engagement with KS4 learning, as a stepping-stone to their future Increased breadth and depth of opportunities post 16, including academic learning Increased participation in Summer Holiday Activities and Post 16 learning (throughout y12 and y13) Eastern Region Conference, 5 th February, 2016 Finding Solutions to the Challenges of Alternative Provision