Questions & Answers for Professionals

The Centre has close links with many professionals working with pregnant or parenting school age mothers and school age fathers and we hope the information here will be of use to them.

Where is the Centre?

The Centre forms part of the newly built Whitleigh Wise Owls Children’s Centre on the site of Whitleigh Primary School (and Sir John Hunt Community College).

Who attends the Centre?

Teenagers, aged 16 or below, who are either pregnant or young mothers. A student can be referred to the Centre from any year in secondary school up to Year 11. It is also possible for a student to return to us in Year 12 to take GCSEs she may not have been able to take due to her pregnancy and birth of the baby.

How long can a student stay at the Centre?

Most remain at the Centre until the end of Year 11 because, as well as providing educational opportunity, the Centre has excellent child care facilities on site.

Who arranges the referral of a student to the Centre?

A student may be referred to us through any of the following people:

• Headteacher or Head of Year at mainstream school
• Education Welfare Officer
• Sure Start Plus Midwife/Advisor
• GP or other Health professional
• Connexions Personal Advisor
• Counsellor
• Parents/carers
• Social Worker
• Self referral

What happens once a referral has been made?

Once a referral has been made and the pregnancy confirmed, the student with her parents/carers is invited to attend a meeting at the Centre to discuss the best possible course of action. For some students, this means full time attendance at the Centre but for others a more flexible programme may be negotiated whereby they attend the Centre for the majority of the week but return to their mainstream school for one or two days to continue with certain GCSE subjects.

What are your hours?

Students attend the Centre from 9.00am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday.

How do students get to and from the Centre?

Due to our location, students living more than a reasonable walking distance from the Centre are entitled to free transport by taxi.

The Service (Education)

What does the Centre provide?

Two classrooms, well equipped with computers, books, and practical resources, to provide an excellent learning environment. There is also a room available for small group or one to one work.

What GCSE subjects does the Centre offer?

Students can study for the following GCSE subjects here:

• English and English Literature
• Mathematics
• Science: Single Award
• Child Development
• ICT (short course)
• Citizenship (short course)
• Art

Most students find that they are more comfortable with a reduced number of subjects to study. Good passes in these will ensure that the student can proceed to college or sixth form. Some of the courses above incorporate other accreditation routes such as the AQA Unit Award Scheme.

Can a student continue with some GCSEs from school?

It is possible to do this through liaison with her school. Our Inclusion Co-ordinator can develop contacts with the school so that resources can be obtained and completed work returned to the school for marking. When a student joins us late on in Year 11 it is important that the school provide resources to enable the student to prepare for her GCSEs.

For some students it has been possible to negotiate with their mainstream school so that they attend there for part of the week to continue with a GCSE subject not on offer at the Centre. This arrangement can only be made if both the student and school wish it to happen.

What else is on the curriculum at the Centre?

Students can improve their ICT skills and work towards CLAIT qualifications.

There are weekly Life Skills and Parenting lessons often with input from our Sure Start Plus Midwife or other visiting professionals.

PE is also on the timetable and this can include badminton, using a gym, dance and outdoor activities.

Extra curricular activities have included trips to the Theatre Royal, Paignton Zoo, and Mount Edgecumbe.

Where does a student sit her exams?

At the Centre if she is taking exams through us, otherwise at her school. Arrangements can be made for exam papers from school to be brought to the Centre if a student is heavily pregnant or has recently had her baby.

Who pays the exam fees?

The Centre will pay for all those subjects the student takes through us. The school would be expected to pay if the student is continuing with subjects through them.

Can a student return to school after having her baby?

If, after having her baby, the student decides to return to her school, we would help her to do so by liaising with the school to ensure a smooth transition and to pass on work that the

student has completed while at the Centre. She would need to have support and help from her family so that her baby’s childcare needs are met. Staff at the Centre would be happy to continue to offer support and advice.

It is not possible for a student to return to her school and continue to use the free Baby Owls nursery care at the Centre. However, there is financial support available through the ‘Care to Learn’ initiative that a student may be entitled to should she need child care costs met when she returns to her mainstream school.

Can teachers or support staff from the student’s school visit her at the Centre?

Yes! We will always make staff from a student's school welcome and the students really value the interest and contact.

The Service (Support to mother and baby)

What help will a student get with their own health care?

Before the baby is born, weekly antenatal checks are carried out by our Sure Start Plus Midwife. She can also attend the Centre if the student develops concerns during the week. She will also arrange for our students to visit the Maternity Unit at Derriford so they are prepared and know what to expect. She also has time with them during the Parenting sessions to discuss labour, pain relief, and all the other questions that come up about child birth.

We also receive regular visits from our School Nurse who works with the students to ensure their vaccinations are up to date, contraception and sexual health matters are reviewed, and any other health concerns are addressed.

How long is the maternity leave?

Most students attend the Centre right up to the day their baby is due. When the baby is born the student is entitled to 6 weeks maternity leave. After this, mother and baby are welcomed back to the Centre so the student can continue her education and the baby can be cared for in the Baby Owls Nursery.

Will there be any contact with the Centre when the student is on maternity leave?

Our Inclusion Coordinator will arrange to visit the student at home to see how she is doing, see if there are any problems that Centre staff could help with, and find out if she would like to continue some of her studies at home. It is not compulsory to carry on with schoolwork while on maternity leave but some of our students are keen to keep up!

The Wise Owls Nursery staff will also arrange a home visit shortly before the student is due to return so that they can meet baby and discuss with mum how her baby will be cared for when she returns to the Centre.

When can the student spend time with her baby during the school day?

The young mother will remain closely involved with the feeding and changing of her baby until the baby is 12 weeks old. After this time, nursery staff can take over some of the feeding and changing. Mums who choose to breast feed are obviously able to go through to the nursery or use our counselling room to feed their baby as and when required.

The students can spend time with their babies in the nursery during the morning break and between 1.30 and 2.00pm, once they have had their lunch.

What about the health care needs after returning from maternity leave?

By the time a student returns to the Centre she will be in regular contact with her Health Visitor. We are hoping to establish a system whereby their Health Visitor can attend the Centre to see the student and her baby so that routine checks and weighing can be done without the student missing too much school.

Who else provides support to students at the Centre?

Other professionals who regularly visit the Centre include:

• The Education Welfare Officer who deals with a range of issues which can include family support and attendance
• The Sure Start Plus Adviser who can advise on benefits, housing, forms, and a whole range of other issues
• The Connexions Careers Adviser who provides advice and guidance on further education courses and possible careers.

Are the parents/carers of the students involved in what goes on at the Centre?

Very much so! We like to keep in regular contact with parents/carers so that they are aware of both progress and problems. We do this through:

• Half termly short progress reports for all students
• One detailed report annually
• Parents evening – an opportunity to meet with the student’s teachers and discuss progress
• Review meetings – when the students, her parents, and others interested in her education and progress meet to discuss options

Parents/carers are encouraged to keep in contact with the Centre if they have any concerns or just to find out how their daughter is getting on.

The Service (Links with mainstream schools)

What does the Centre expect from the mainstream school?

Once the student has been referred, the school will be sent a set of Transfer Forms which request the school to provide information on:

• Predicted GCSE grades for key subjects with a comment from the subject teacher
• A comment from the Form Tutor or Head of Year
• Relevant assessment data (such as CATs) and Key Stage 3 SATs results or Teacher Assessment
• Attendance figures
• Coursework for subjects to be continued through the Centre.

If a member of staff that the student knew well can find time to come out to the Centre and visit the student, that is always appreciated by the student and the staff at the Centre.

What can the school expect from the Centre?

The Centre will take responsibility for the continuing education of the student and give her the opportunity to study for the GCSEs offered by the Centre. Support for students still continuing with subjects from main stream school, through liaison between the Centre’s Inclusion Co-ordinator and staff at the school. Updates on how the student is progressing.

Notification of GCSE results and other accreditation gained.

If the student comes to the Centre full time, does she go onto your roll?

No, most students become dual registered, remaining on their school roll. Schools contribute a charge to EOTAS whilst the student remains on roll here.

Young Fathers

Is the Centre able to provide support to school age fathers?

Now that the Centre has moved to new, more spacious accommodation, we are in a position to offer some support to young fathers (and fathers to be), including those in Years 12 and 13. During the sessions , young fathers have the opportunity to find out more about baby and toddler development and related topics. They can gain accreditation through the AQA Unit Award Scheme by completing a variety of practical and written tasks. The timing of the sessions for young fathers is negotiable to some extent, so contact the Centre to find out more.