Medical Needs
We are commissioned by Wigan Council to provide educational input for secondary-aged learners across the borough who are not in school for medical reasons. Our intervention is a short-term, part-time intervention focussing on the core curriculum of English, maths, science and PSHE, designed to support the learner's returning to their main school. Wherever possible any KS4 learners who are supported to attend their main school follow the curriculum and exam courses of that provision.
Learners remain dual-registered with their main school and we work closely with the learners, their families, schools and other agencies to ensure smooth and effective transition back into their main school as their health improves. To support the rest of the weekly timetable is set aside for learners to "keep in touch" with their main school so that they maintain relationships with staff and friends, can complete work in subjects that we do not offer and can attend any appointments necessary.
We offer a blended approach to tuition depending on the needs of the individual; learners can access their lessons face-to-face onsite at Hindley or join remotely using laptops provided by Three Towers. There is flexibility to flip between both approaches depending on the health/’wellness’ of the learner and/or medical advice. Similarly, the actual hours of learning, whether from Three Towers or their main school, is always determined by the health/’wellness’ of the learner so may vary from week to week depending on medical advice.
In-patient Medical Needs - if ward staff feel it appropriate, access to our online learning material is available for in-patients on Rainbow Ward at RAEI. In addition, we attend the ward each afternoon during term time to deliver lessons to those children who are fit enough to attend. Whilst these learners have access to full-time provision, the actual hours of learning is always determined by the health of the learner and may vary from day to day depending on medical advice and so is determined by ward staff.
Medical Needs Outreach - some medical needs referrals are for short term support whilst the learner either recovers from hospital treatment or is reintegrated back into school following periods of absence due to physical/mental health issues. These learners receive up to six weeks support. This is usually a combination of direct teaching to help the learner complete work from their mainstream school and access to online lessons. The timetable is negotiated with each individual school to meet the needs on a case by case basis.
