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Dedicated 'Pupil Referral Units' at mainstream schools will be considered as an alternative way of supporting some of Jersey's most vulnerable children, the Government has confirmed after Express unearthed concerns about the special behavioural needs establishment, La Sente.
In a statement, officials conceded that upgrades to the school's facilities were "needed" and confirmed that a feasibility study was underway.
One guardian of a child at the school likened La Sente's Five Oaks Key Stage 4 site to a “containment area”, criticising the heavy police presence.
They also suggested that the lacklustre environment was holding children back from reaching their educational potential due to the limited curriculum on offer, and lack of purpose-built facilities such as science labs.
The Children's Commissioner also expressed concerns about exclusion rates.
Pictured: La Sente is split into a Key Stage 4 facility at Five Oaks (left) and a Key Stages 2 and 3 facility at the old D'Hautrée Lodge House (right).
Asked whether the La Sente facilities were up to a standard considered conducive to learning by Express, the Government did not give an affirmative answer as to whether they deemed the current facilities appropriate for schooling.
They did however acknowledge that an upgrade was needed and that plans were underway, saying in a statement signed off by Education Minister Jeremy Maçon: “As with all long-standing education facilities, periodic redesign is needed to ensure that the teaching spaces reflect modern teaching practice and methods, and meet the needs of students and staff."
Though they did not comment on the former D'Hautrée site's future, they said that "a feasibility study of the KS4 La Sente site is being conducted, which is expected to be complete this year.”
The comments come after the appendix to an Independent School Funding Review published in October said that in the current special school facilities in the island, "headteachers feel unable to adequately support the complex needs of pupils, in a safe and secure manner, under current arrangements.”
The spokesperson further confirmed to Express that the idea of on-site ‘Pupil Referral Units’, as well as other on-site alternative learning is also being considered as part of a Pupil Inclusion Review, which is "in train".
Pictured: The Government spokesperson's comments were signed off by Education Minister, Deputy Jeremy Maçon.
Pupil Referral Units in the UK refer to the separate facilities made for children who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to attend mainstream school. They can also cater to children who split their time between the PRU and their mainstream school.
Express understands the idea suggested to Government by a local head teacher would involve a number of these facilities to be developed next to, or as part of the facilities at mainstream secondary schools, so that pupils would still be able to access staff and key resources whilst learning from the safe, separate environment they need, without being excluded.
When asked if this idea was something they would consider as part of their plans for education going forward, the Government confirmed it would be considered.
“As part of its scope, the Inclusion Review will consider different models of supporting students, including in-school support mechanisms/in-school mechanisms, including a Pupil Referral Unit,” they said.
Pictured: The Government will be considering a number of on-site alternatives for mainstream education, including the idea of putting Pupil Referral Units next to mainstream schools.
On the topic of the current support on offer to students, which a guardian told Express they felt was not sufficient, the Government said the school worked “very closely” with “the Education Department Special Education Needs Team and the Psychology and Wellbeing Service.”
They added that “La Sente have their own dedicated Educational Psychologist assigned to the school along with a School Counsellor and access to Primary Mental Health Worker.”
On additional support, they said that they offered “appropriate” and “bespoke” Child and Adolescence Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Autism and Social Inclusion Team (ASCIT), Mind Jersey, the Social Emotional Mental Health Team (SEMHIT) and Occupational Therapy both inside and outside school.
They said that staff compete training in: decider skills, zones of regulation, providing trauma-informed care, safeguarding focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Special Educational Needs, and autism awareness.
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