Purpose
This 6-week assessment pathway is designed for pupils who are currently unable to attend mainstream school due to unidentified or unmet needs and barriers to learning. Many pupils referred to the pathway may be experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) or other social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) challenges impacting their ability to access education.
The pathway focuses on identifying underlying needs through a structured assessment and screening process, alongside a carefully adapted programme of learning. This enables staff to develop a clear understanding of each pupil’s strengths, needs, and barriers to engagement.
Placements are delivered by a specialist team at the Raedwald Trust Assessment Centre, where the Trust provides up to 10 hours of provision per pupil per week in a highly supportive environment.
The overall aim of the programme is to produce a comprehensive assessment report which clearly identifies a pupil’s needs and provides evidence-based recommendations for appropriate next-step provision, enabling the pupil to successfully re-engage with education.
Timescales & Support
Placements last six weeks and focus on assessment, observation, and relationship-based engagement.
Provision may include:
- Structured induction and baseline assessment
- Low-demand, consistent routines to support re-engagement with education
- Small group or one-to-one sessions
- Social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH), C&L (cognition & learning), and communication & interaction (C&I) screening and observation
- Exploration of attendance barriers and anxiety
- Identification of underlying learning, emotional or environmental barriers
- Pupil voice activities to capture the young person’s perspective
- Ongoing communication with parents/carers and professionals
Curriculum
The curriculum is bespoke and assessment-led, designed to support observation of pupils’ engagement with learning while minimising pressure and anxiety.
Where appropriate, elements of the National Curriculum are used to help assess learning behaviours and engagement.
The programme may include:
- English (literacy and communication)
- Maths (functional numeracy)
- PSHE (emotional literacy and wellbeing)
- Readers for Life (reading and comprehension development)
- Life Essentials (resilience, independence, and personal development)
- Creative and practical subjects such as Art or Food & Nutrition
Curriculum delivery is flexible and adapted to support engagement, regulation, and confidence-building, rather than academic outcomes alone.
Assessment
Assessment is embedded throughout the placement.
The assessment process includes:
- Baseline induction assessments to identify starting points in learning and wellbeing
- Use of screening tools (including ____________ observational profiling where appropriate)
- Ongoing monitoring of push and pull factors affecting attendance and engagement
- Observation of:
- Emotional regulation
- Anxiety responses
- Behaviour as communication
- Relationships with peers and adults
- Engagement with learning tasks
- Application of the Assess–Plan–Do–Review (APDR) cycle to trial strategies and evaluate their effectiveness
- Regular pupil voice and reflection opportunities
Progress and observations are shared regularly with parents/carers and professionals throughout the programme.
Outcomes
At the end of the 6-week pathway, each pupil will receive a comprehensive assessment report which includes:
- A detailed profile of the pupil’s C&L, C&I and SEMH needs
- Identification of barriers to learning and attendance
- Analysis of engagement with learning and support strategies
- Evidence of effective approaches and adjustments
- Clear recommendations for next-step provision and support
Outcomes may include:
- Reintegration planning for mainstream school
- Recommendations for additional SEND assessment
- Identification of need for specialist or alternative provision
- Strategies and adjustments required to support successful school attendance
- Submission of EHCNA (by the home school) and/or additional referrals to external agencies
The programme aims to ensure that pupils leave with a clearer understanding of their needs and a pathway toward sustainable engagement with education.
Assessment Centre Programmes of Study