The Effective Learning Centre (ELC) is managed by Shirley Robins the Director of Effective Learning and is staffed with highly professional and fully trained staff.

The ELC has been set up for students who cannot access the curriculum; this could be for a variety of reasons such as broken limbs, English as an additional language, bereavement and behaviour to name but a few. Students may be in the ELC for as little as a day or as long as it takes to overcome the problems they are currently experiencing.

The aim of the ELC is to ensure that students are given every opportunity to experience success, achievement and fulfilment in their work. To ensure this success the ELC has a well resourced teaching base with up to the minute hi-tech networked computers in each room as well as specialist resources and text books.

The ELC is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. and is available as a safe environment for students to use during break and lunchtimes.

Effective Learning Policy

General Principles

At Treviglas Community College we believe that:

1. all students are entitled to a broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum
2. all students are entitled to be valued by all staff for the individual contribution they make and therefore, are entitled to experience success and feel positive about themselves
3. the Governing Body along with all subject teachers, Form Tutors, Heads of Houses, Pastoral Team, Senior Leadership Team and Effective Learning Team need to accept responsibility for students with special needs. All teachers are recognised as teachers of SEN.
4. more able students also have special educational needs and may require special provision or consideration, even though the needs of these children are not addressed by the SEN Code of Practice
5. many students, other than those identified by the College Directory of Concern, may need temporary help and support during their college life

The Gateway Referral Programme

Students identified as having particular difficulties accessing the curriculum and who may be at risk of permanent exclusion may require a Pastoral Support Plan. These plans are individually designed to support students in regaining successful access to the curriculum and college life. The plans require the work and support of many teachers and support staff in college as well as outside agencies. At Treviglas Community College we refer to our Pastoral Support Plan as ‘going through the Gateway’.

Students may go through the ‘Gateway’ for many reasons. They might have difficulties due to illness, attendance, emotional and behavioural difficulties or learning difficulties. The college will set up and deliver an individual learning package to meet their needs. These students will often spend time within the Effective Learning Centre as part of their package. The Centre aims to provide a structured learning environment with work tailored to meet each individual’s needs. The Effective Learning Team realises how important it is for a student to feel that they are valued despite their difficulties and will work alongside the students to help identify and support their particular problems.

The ultimate aim of the ‘Gateway’ is to assist students back into the mainstream college where they can feel confident that they will achieve and succeed as a person as well as a scholar.

To ensure that the individual learning packages have all the necessary elements to be successful many staff are involved in the planning and process. Regular review meetings are usually held involving a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of House, Director of Effective Learning and SENCO, along with any outside agencies who may be working with the student and his or her family.

Flexible Learning Packages

A Flexible Learning Package is an Individual learning package put in place for a very small number of students who are disengaged, disaffected and/or at risk of exclusion. A package is only set up if a student is in real danger of becoming permanently excluded. It usually follows many meetings, strategies and interventions involving the pastoral support team, Heads of Houses, SLT, parents and possibly outside agencies and the Effective Learning Team all working to support the student.

A flexible package may include the student attending at a different time to the main body of the college. It may also include attendance at a FE college, work experience and any other alternative time-table or curriculum arrangement which will have been made with the full support of parents, the student and SLT at the college.