Moorbridge is a Pupil Referral Unit and is part of NTSSS for KS3 and KS4 students living in North Tyneside.  Moorbridge operates within the ‘Children, Young People and Learning’ Directorate to provide education otherwise than at school for those students in KS3 and 4 who require ‘exceptional provision’ in accordance with the Education Act 1996 (Sec 19 (2) and Schedule 1)

 

The students at KS3 include those who are:  

• Permanently excluded 

• At risk of PX, 

• Students with a medical or psychological assessment indicating a disorder, 

• Students with Statements of Special Educational Needs where parental choice has requested Moorbridge, 

• Statements of Special Educational Needs awaiting placement 

• Students undergoing formal assessment for Special Educational Needs.  

• Other students are admitted where places are available, if agreed as an appropriate placement.  

Within KS3 students are closely monitored by staff and taught in small groups, the main aim being to reintegrate into an appropriate school setting.

 

The students at KS4 are vulnerable, anxious students with some serious Medical or Mental Health issues who have found attendance at school extremely difficult and for whom this presents as a significant barrier to learning, but Moorbridge enables them to have a fresh start. Students study a range of GCSE subjects within the supportive setting and are prepared for transition to further education, training and the world of work.

 

Teaching, learning and pastoral care are maintained and developed. We have achieved GOOD in our recent OFSTED with many outstanding features.

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KS3 and Route 16 Alternative Provision (AP) Student Characteristics

 

Referrals for a placement at MAEPS are made via the SST (School Support Team) and the Fair Access Panel. 

These referrals are usually made by schools and on occasion by professionals involved with a young persons care. We are unable to take referrals directly from parents/carers.

Further information about the referral process can be downloaded here:

Fair Access Process

Download the Referral Form

Students attending MAEPS typically present with one or more of the following SEMH characteristics:

Anxiety:

• Long term non-attendance

• School phobia

The young person struggles to cope with a large school setting, how a school setting operates in terms of movement between lessons and relatively unsupervised social times, Increased isolation from school life, has significantly lower resilience than age equivalent peers – in particular relation to main stream dynamics.

Emotional Difficulties:

• Withdrawn behaviour

• Eating disorders

• Obsessive behaviours

• Physical problems

• Low self esteem

The young person demonstrates limited awareness into their own emotional state, prone to outburst of emotion, limited self help skills to manage emotions and struggles to accurately read emotions of others.

Depression:

• Poor self image

• Self harm

• Rarely leaves home

The young person is observed regularly present with low self esteem in social situations, has a skewed or negative self image, may lack confidence within a classroom setting and may also act in an intimidating way as a defence mechanism.

Victim of bullying:

• Long term non-attendance

• School phobia

The Young person is causing concerns within their social life outside of school, struggles to leave the house , contacts friends less frequently etc.

Mental Health Concerns 

• CAMHS

• Low mood for extended periods of time

• Disengaged and lacks motivation

The young person has adopted harmful coping strategies for dealing with times of difficulty including different categories of self harm.

‘Acting Out’ Behaviours

• Trauma based

• Past experiences

• Bereavement

• Abuse

The young person has evidence/documentation to support a referral, including the reflection and views of challenges and situations the young person has/is experiencing. 

All young people admitted to MAEPS undertake a range of assessments and will be observed by professionals with a high level of expertise in SEMH (social emotional and mental health wellbeing) with referrals to CAMHS and other agencies being pursued when deemed appropriate to do so.

Partnership communication between the schools, parents and MAEPS are encouraged and will help facilitate this. Parents can email, telephone or visit the Centre at any time to discuss the problems their child may be experiencing.

Students are kept on the roll of their mainstream school and, under the arrangement made under the Education Act 2016, will usually be dual registered.