This half term, we have begun phase one of our Outreach Support Service pilot to assist mainstream secondary schools across the local area in helping pupils who are experiencing difficulties such as persistent absence and disengagement from learning or are at risk of permanent exclusion.
Understanding the increasing challenges schools face in supporting young people with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs, we are sharing the expertise we have developed here at The Acorns School to support local schools in keeping pupils engaged in mainstream education.
Four times a week, our Specialist Outreach Leads, Miss Jaclyn Turner and Ms Sharon Murphy, are working directly with pupils within their own secondary schools to deliver bespoke, targeted interventions tailored to support their needs. By getting to know pupils individually through initial sessions which identify areas of strength alongside areas requiring further development, Miss Turner and Ms Murphy then set individual targets and key priorities to collaboratively work towards in future intervention sessions.
The targeted support strategies range from direct work with pupils to support their engagement, behaviour and emotional regulation and strategies to improve attendance to working with school staff and families to support reintegration planning and strengthening home-school relationships.
Since the beginning of September, we have been working with identified pupils from Up Holland High School, Up Holland, and Lathom High School, Skelmersdale, and staff in these secondary schools are already noticing the positive outcomes being secured through the outreach service. We will also begin working with pupils from Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School after the autumn half term break.
Headteacher of Up Holland High School, Mr Paul Scarborough, said: “Having the opportunity to offer children some much-needed intervention without sacrificing their access to mainstream education has been refreshing. We have found that children have engaged well with the programme, while still having the opportunity to assimilate with their peers in a comprehensive school setting.
“There has been a positive impact on their ability to self-regulate, develop their social and relationship-building skills, and address other barriers that may otherwise prevent them from integrating successfully into the wider Up Holland High School community."
Ms Laura Whittaker, Lead Practitioner for Behaviour at Lathom High School, commented: “Students have engaged extremely well with The Acorns School’s outreach programme. They speak very positively about Miss Turner and, from arriving at school, look forward to their intervention sessions with her.
“The combination of strong relationships, targeted intervention, and close communication between Miss Turner, students, parents and carers and Lathom staff has resulted in high levels of engagement and promising early improvements. The programme has also given students greater confidence and practical strategies to help them self-manage and regulate their emotions and behaviour.”
Ms Whittaker added: “Importantly, the outreach model has helped to maintain a strong sense of belonging for our students, as the intervention is brought to them within Lathom rather than requiring them to leave school to attend an intervention placement at Acorns.”
Partnership work is key to the success of the Outreach Support Service pilot, which aims to complement existing provision by sharing specialist expertise and practical strategies that can be sustained within the school environment.
Miss Helen Cutts, Acting Headteacher of The Acorns School, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted with how the Outreach Support Service pilot has been received so far and, crucially, the success we’re already seeing with the pupils Miss Turner and Ms Murphy are working alongside.
“With extensive specialist expertise across our team, we are committed to delivering collaborative support to colleagues across our local area. By providing pupils and staff with the right tools and strategies, we’re ensuring that young people get the vital support they need to stay in education and truly thrive within their mainstream school environment.”
