ALTERNATIVE
EDUCATION PROVISION (AEP)
Alternative Education Provision is provided for pupils in Key Stage 4, in Alternative Education Centres based strategically within the South Eastern Education and Library Board. These are located in Laganvalley Centre (Lisburn), Ardmore House (Downpatrick), Lisnasharragh AEP (Castlereagh) and Redburn AEP (Holywood). The Laganvalley Project was initially established by the local community to meet the needs of the young people out of school in the area, but has developed into a strategic partnership between the AEP provision in the SEELB and Laganvalley Project. Across the centres there are 60 places available, with 15 in each centre, and one respite place per centre, thus 63 places available. All of these young people are in Key Stage 4 and are thus 14 – 16 years of age. Very occasionally an exception is made for a Year 10 child who has absolutely no placement and would be better served within the AEP provision.
The aims of the provision are to:
-
Meet the statutory duty to provide education for these young people, by providing appropriate and meaningful accreditation that allows them to make a successful transition to further education, training or employment.
-
Promote the social inclusion of the young people.
-
Develop their personal and social skills.
-
Work with other agencies as appropriate to support the young people
Personal and social skills are addressed in a broad range of provision that allows them to experience personal success, and build confidence e g broader key skills; Duke of Edinburgh Award; PE; Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (GCSE equivalent); work experience; art therapy; visits to a variety of activities or places of interest. A curriculum that integrates personal effectiveness into valid accreditation is used so that the young people experience ‘real life’ scenarios and appropriate opportunities, and achieve literacy, numeracy, and IT qualifications as GCSE’s. This approach also allows them to achieve further accreditation in vocational and specific areas of interest.
A referral process, is strictly adhered to, and ensures that schools and ELB providers make full use of criteria before attempting to secure a placement. The referral panel within Special Education and whose membership includes, Education Welfare, Education Psychology, Behaviour Support Team, Special Education and AEP provide a gatekeeping mechanism for referrals. These criteria are:
-
Key Stage 4 pupil or entering Key Stage 4.
-
Evidence of a broad range of strategies adopted by the school.
-
Use made of appropriate agencies to support the school and young person.
-
Difficulties have been enduring and over a long period of time.
-
Other statutory agencies are involved as appropriate.
Children remain on the roll of the school whilst in AEP, and annual reports are provided on the child’s progress. Many schools maintain an interest in the child whilst in AEP, and there are very good working relationships between the schools and the AEP provision.
A multi – disciplinary approach is used, with staff teams including teachers(5), youth workers (called adolescent support workers(5)) and classroom assistants (called learning support assistants(6)). These figures do not include those of Laganvalley Project, who employ and supervise their own staff. The pupil-staff ration is 4 or 5 to 1 in all centres. Policies are in place, with procedures and protocols to ensure that staff and young people understand the expectations and are kept safe and healthy at all times.
Young people are provided with Individual Education Plans, with specific targets and outcomes depending on need. All young people complete accreditation, a period of work placement and meet with other agencies as required, such as careers service, and support agencies.
The management of AEP is overseen by Special Education, with a Head of AEP responsible for the day to day running of the provision. There is good communication and support between the services within the SEELB, and AEP.
AEP has been inspected a number of times, most recently in April 2008, and these reports are available on the ETI website.
Summary:
| Statutory provision | Voluntary provision |
| Castlereagh
AEP Mobile 2 Lisnasharragh High School 56 Merok Park Belfast BT6 9LT Tel: 028 9079 2061 Fax: 028 9079 6510 |
Laganvalley
Project Manager:
Mr Tony McCabe |
Redburn
AEP |
|
Downpatrick
AEP |
Head of AEP: Bronagh Wright Mobile 2 Lisnasharragh High School 56 Merok Park Belfast BT6 9LT Tel: 028 9079 2061 Fax: 028 9079 6510 |
