238 Charity Profile
West Sussex Alternative Provision College Schools for excluded pupils in West Sussex. By Lynn Smith West Sussex Alternative Provision College (WSAPC) provides education to pupils who have been permanently excluded from school and those who cannot attend their own schools for medical reasons, and also supports referrals for pupils at significant risk of permanent exclusion from school. Head teacher, Doug Thomas tells me that, like all schools, WSAPC is committed to maximising student attainment with children working towards nationally recognised qualifications, and all students – regardless of their starting points - are provided with opportunities to achieve and celebrate their progress. The college strives to give pupils a fresh approach Head teacher Doug Thomas to learning in supportive, personalised alternative provision settings; the aim being, vulnerable young people and decided to address where possible, to reintegrate children and young this by forming a college that would have a vision, people into schools or other appropriate long- ethos and philosophy that embraces excellent term educational settings. practice for their students and one that has the leadership commitment to drive and demand Operating in seven West Sussex locations only the best for their cohort of young people.” Formed in April 2013, the college delivers 292 Addressing social and emotional needs as well full time places for children and young people. WSAPC’s schools are strategically placed to as educational needs offer educational provisions across West Sus- WSAPC, Doug Thomas says, “Encourages pupils sex, with centres in Chichester, Littlehampton, to continue their educational progress both within Worthing, Lancing, Burgess Hill, Haywards the time they are with us and when they are ready to move on to other schools and establishHeath and Crawley. Doug Thomas leads the team at WSAPC, along ments.” He goes on to say that the college firmly with Business Manager, Sam Channing, and dep- believes that education is a lifelong process and uties, Ben Thomas and Helen Ellis, providing pri- acknowledges that there may have been obstamary and secondary learning provision for a cles and past events that have blocked pupils’ range of students who aren’t in mainstream edu- educational progress. “With this in mind, we reccation and need support to get their futures on ognise that we need to address both the social track. He firmly believes that the school’s main and emotional needs of our pupils alongside and focus is on opening doors to educational and life in conjunction with their educational needs. One experiences, so that pupils can enjoy and make a follows the other; positivity from our team to create the relationships needed, to open the doors habit of learning that will last a lifetime. of learning.” Although the college offers 292 placDoug Thomas says that WSAPC was founded out es, Doug Thomas says that on average, there of, “A need for West Sussex to ensure that all may be 400 to 500 students per year, as the children who needed Alterntive Provision would admissions period is fluid. A state funded Pupil get a fair, equitable and positive educational set- Referral Unit, WSAPC is commissioned by West ting that didn’t rely on where a child lived and Sussex County Council and funded via the High who was delivering the education. Needs Block, also known as ‘top up funding.’ Top “For years, West Sussex had an imbalance of up funding follows the child, so if the child moves good educational settings for some of their most school, the top up funding goes with them.
