Insights ESC Tuition Centre
Interesting, interactive & inclusive education

Policies & Pastoral Care

The pastoral care of all pupils at Insights is supported by the Student Support Service which maintains close contact with parents and primary carers as well as with statutory agencies. The Student Support Service offer support to pupils and parents both at the centre and at home and the staff are part of the Centre Management Team.

Additional learning, behavioural and language support is available to all pupils and is delivered through individual education and activity plans.

Planned Absences

If a pupil needs to be absent from the centre for any reason we will always consider a request sympathetically, but you must notify the centre in advance.

Back to top Medication

Medication is managed by the Student Support Service in accordance with the centre's policy, but only with the written consent of the parent/carer.

Back to top School Lunches

Lunches are provided by the centre. Hot and cold meals are available which include a selection of fresh fruit and yogurt. Pupils are encouraged to eat healthily and water is available throughout the day. Insights is pursuing National Healthy School Status and provides a supervised breakfast and care for those pupils who have an early start.

Back to top Uniform

Pupils are expected to wear a uniform which is provided by Insights. It comprises:

Additional uniform items are available to order upon request.

Back to top Personal Property

The centre does not accept liability or responsibility for the loss or damage of personal property of any kind. Pupils should NOT therefore bring personal property into school unless it has been specifically requested for a curriculum topic. For health and safety reasons jewellery is not permitted (unless it is for religious reasons).

Back to top Travel Arrangements

Pupils are transported to and from home by either the local authority or Insights transport, depending on their individual circumstances. The centre is committed to providing safe and reliable transport on all official journeys where it has taken responsibility for such provision.

Back to top Behaviour Management

Pupils' behaviour is supported by a simple system of rules and rewards which is understood by all pupils and staff and which can be easily adapted to the needs of specific pupils. All pupils have an Individual Behaviour Management Plan.

Back to top Rewards

Rewarding pupils for good behaviour and for excellent work during the day is our main method of communicating our approval to the pupils. Rewards include:

Back to top Sanctions

The application of sanctions is undertaken in a professional and thoughtful manner. The individual pupil's special educational needs are taken into account as well as the specific problem behaviour. The following sanctions are approved:

Back to top Exclusions

Insights does not normally exclude pupils. We prefer to work with a pupil in the centre to modify and improve his/her behaviour. On rare occasions it may be necessary to exclude a pupil for a period of time.

Parents/carers and the local authority or school will be informed immediately and will have the right to appeal to the Director of Insights ESC Ltd. A formal review will be arranged within 5 days of the exclusion.

Back to top Home/School Liaison

At Insights we place great value on parent/school relations. Parents are encouraged to keep in close contact with the centre through home/school diaries and are invited to post admission interviews, annual reviews, open days, sports days, Christmas events and parent evenings.

As part of the pastoral support all families will be offered a termly meeting wtih the Student Support Services at their home. This is designed to forge positive relations, work on issues overlapping home and school and provide support to parents/carers.

Progress is reported to parents by way of home/school diaries, telephone calls, home visits, progress reports, records of achievement, annual review reports or informal meetings initiated by staff or by parents/carers.

Back to top Religious & Cultural Ethos

Insights is a non-denominational school. It respects the culture and religion of all pupils and their families and welcomes information prior to admission concerning specific requirements.

The school promotes a value system based on Christian principles and pupils attend a daily assembly focusing on such values. The pupils also celebrate a variety of major festivals such as Diwali, Eid and Christmas to help prepare them for contemporary multi-cultural society.

Pupils may be withdrawn from religious education at the written request of their parents/carers.

Back to top Anti-Bullying Policy

Insights does not accept bullying. The staff are vigilant at all times and any complaints are fully investigated and dealt with in the appropriate manner. All parents/carers and pupils are given information about the anti-bullying policy.

Back to top Pupil Protection

The centre makes every possible effort to maintain a safe and caring environment. Pupils are actively encouraged to express their views and are given opportunities to express any concerns or fears they may have.

All staff are appropriately trained in child protection and are made aware of the referral agency's child protection procedures. Any issues or disclosures concerning child protection are treated with the utmost urgency and in accordance with the centre's Child Protection Policy by our Child Protection Officer and Lead Teacher.

Jacquie Jess is the designated child protection officer with the Director, Barbara Quartey, acting in her absence.

Back to top Complaints Procedure

In accordance with the Childrens Act 1989 all pupils have access to a complaints procedure for alerting adults of situations that are causing them distress. Details are included in the student handbook.

The complaints procedure may be used by anyone including parents/carers and staff. All parents/carers of current or prospective pupils may obtain details of the school's complaints procedure and of the number of complaints registered in the preceding year.

Back to top Health and Safety

The centre is subject to statutory inspections by the local authority Fire Service and Environmental Health Department and has the necessary certifications.

There is also an internal Health & Safety Team which carries out weekly inspections of all sites.

Back to top Equal Opportunities

The school's equal opportunities policy prohibits direct or indirect discrimination against any pupil, prospective pupil, employee or job applicant on the grounds of: