Mildenhall

Head Teacher

David Younger

Telephone: 01638 715555

A Section 41 Approved School

Our School

On Track Education in Mildenhall is an independent special school. It opened in April 2005 and has places for up to 32 students aged 11 to 18.

The school’s mission is to provide students with opportunities for success and achievement in their personal and academic skills. It aims to develop positive attitudes to learning and to prepare students with diverse skills and knowledge for adult life.

The school currently runs four classes and additional nurture groups. Each class will contain a maximum of four students at any time and will be supported by two or three adults. 1:1 provision is also available for students. Students are all supported through Thrive assessments which promote optimal social and emotional development. In particular this approach equips staff to work in a targeted way with children and young people who have struggled with any aspect of their developmental needs being fully met. The approach helps our students to re-engage with life and learning.

All children begin their time at On Track within the Nurture Group where they are assessed by staff using the Boxall profile, BKSB, The Neale Analysis and WRAT but only when they feel comfortable to do so. Staff then decide upon a group for each child. However the staff understand that not all children will settle in the chosen group and we are very happy to change a group at the request of the student. The aim of the Nurture Group is to provide a flexible, preventative resource, which is responsive to the particular needs of the students attending the school and links into the school's Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Behaviour and Inclusion Policies. It provides on-going assessment and support for students showing signs of severe emotional stress and social and behavioural difficulties with the aim of enabling the students to access the curriculum and participate more fully in school life. The Nurture group aims to provide a secure and reliable small class setting where students can learn by re-experiencing primary-school nurture from three adults who actively work towards helping the students learn to behave appropriately, develop their social skills, improve their self-esteem and develop confidence in themselves as learners, through close and trusting relationships with adults.

The ongoing rigorous assessment process ensures that each student’s personal learning plan and behaviour support plan fully reflect their individual need and programmes are carefully personalised to that need. The student voice is critical in this process and the diversity of the curriculum offer ensures that students are able to select curriculum choices within their own area of interest through which their education can be delivered. Students' individual learning needs inform each lesson plan and regular key worker sessions ensure that the student voice remains prominent. Student success is celebrated through a weekly merit system and target weeks. Parents and carers are informed of all achievements through the receipt of Success Forms.

Our Staff Team

On Track staff are all trained and experienced in the delivery of personalised education programmes, appropriate to each student’s individual needs, learning styles and interests. Our staff specialise in working with young people with barriers to learning, including Dyslexia, Aspergers, Autism and ADHD.

The Curriculum

The On Track Curriculum provides a diverse, broad and balanced alternative curriculum which places value on the development of a wide range of student skills and abilities including physical, written, oral, academic, artistic, creative, social and personal.

The curriculum provides flexible accreditation pathways across all subjects and levels to meet the needs of each individual student and maximise their potential. The current accreditation offer at the On Track Education Centre in Mildenhall includes the following

English – AQA Unit Award Scheme, Step up to English, Functional Skills L1&2, GCSE
Maths - AQA Unit Award Scheme, Entry Level, Functional Skills L1&2, GCSE
Science - AQA Unit Award Scheme, Entry Level, GCSE
Art - AQA Unit Award Scheme, GCSE, BTEC Level 1 Award/Certificate/Diploma
ICT - AQA Unit Award Scheme, IGCSE, Functional Skills
PHSE - AQA Unit Award Scheme, Level 1 and Level 2 Certificates
Humanities - AQA Unit Award Scheme, IGCSE
PE/Fitness - AQA Unit Award Scheme, BTEC Level 1 Award/Certificate/Diploma
Cookery - AQA Unit Award Scheme, BTEC
Vocational (Mechanics, Woodwork, Plumbing, Welding, Construction) - AQA Unit Award Scheme, BTEC Level Award/Certificate/Diploma
Music - AQA Unit Award Scheme, BTEC Level 1 Award/Certificate/Diploma, Arts Award Bronze/Silver
Business/Enterprise - AQA Unit Award Scheme, BTEC Level 1 Award/Certificate/Diploma
Hair and Beauty - AQA Unit Award Scheme, BTEC Level 1 Award/Certificate/Diploma
Small Animal Care - AQA Unit Award Scheme, BTEC Level 1 Award/Certificate/Diploma

The School Site

The school is located on a light industrial estate in Mildenhall and is spread over four units. There are ten first floor teaching rooms plus a large nurture group room on the first floor.

On the ground floor there is a kitchen, a dining room, a physical activity room and two vocational workshops.

Outside, we have an artificial turf area which is marked out for basketball and five a side football.

Documents

Copies of all On Track policies, including the Complaints Procedure, can be obtained on request from Head Office or the School.

Keeping your child safe online - https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

Mildenhall, Suffolk