Primary Support Bases
Primary Support Bases are part of Hertfordshire’s strategy to
provide a rapid response to meeting the needs of children with severe
behavioural
problems. They are attached to mainstream primary schools. The bases
have a permanent roll of up to six children who are supported within
the base
school. Quadrant SEN operations teams control admission to this roll.
They also operate “extended roll”, a new concept, which
has been successfully piloted by three primary schools with EBD units.
There
are plans to extend the service to cover the whole of Hertfordshire from
April 2005.
Extended roll is an additional resource, which is available
through referral to local behaviour support teams. Schools seeking help
for children at risk of exclusion or with significant behavioural problems
should follow one of the normal routes i.e. contact your ESC, your advisory
teacher for EBD, or your Educational Psychologist. The local behaviour
support team will then discuss children with severe problems and a referral
to “extended roll” may be recommended. Schools
may not seek help directly from schools operating extended roll.
Three staff (an experienced teacher and two experienced teaching assistants)
are available from the extended roll school to help approximately six
children. The children are dual registered and remain the responsibility
of their original school although significant levels of support are normally
provided. The level of need of all the children on roll will affect the
amount of support available. As support is provided at "school
action plus" it can arrive very quickly after an initial referral
is made.
Schools within the pilot areas have greatly appreciated the additional
practical support and advice. As a result, the distress experienced by
pupils with behavioural needs, their classmates, their families, and their
teachers has been greatly reduced. Permanent exclusions have dramatically
fallen in the pilot areas.
Extended roll support is flexible, but it is not a permanent solution
and would not normally last for more than one year (three terms). There
are a variety of possible outcomes which include:
- The child remains in their mainstream school and is automatically
awarded EPF when extended roll support is withdrawn.
- The school is supported in making an application for "formal
assessment". Support will remain in place until the child’s needs
have been fully considered.
There will be nine PSBs in the following locations:
·
The Leys in Stevenage
·
Ryelands in Hoddesdon
·
Summerswood in Borehamwood
·
Radburn in Letchworth
·
Bowmans Green in London Colney
·
Chambersbury in Hemel Hempstead
·
Springmead in Welwyn Garden City
·
Andrews Lane in Cheshunt
·
Lea Farm (Berrygrove) in Watford
These PSBs will be fully functional from September 2005 onwards.
Operational Guidelines
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