Return to Learn Programme

The Return to Learn Programme

The Return to Learn Programme is a structured initiative designed to support the reassessment and re-engagement of children and young people (both on-roll and off-roll) who are not currently accessing education, employment (apprenticeships), or training (NEET), or who are at risk of permanent exclusion”. Children or YP’s next steps are varied, but include: joining Whitetrees Independent School; transitioning into other mainstream or specialist settings. In every case, our goal is the same: to provide a positive, hopeful foundation for a brighter and happier future where young people have experienced belonging, been given the opportunity to thrive and achieve.

Return to Learn offers a tiered approach to provide the deepest level of therapeutic, academic, and relational support, ensuring reintegration is not only successful but sustainable as pupils and young people move on to their next approach.

Tier 1 (12 Weeks)

12 Week Reassessment for pupils who are off-roll and have outdated SEND paperwork

  • 1:1 engagement and learning support from a therapeutic project worker, 5 days a week for 3 hours a day.
  • Daily 1:1 community activity engagement sessions.
  • Comprehensive cognitive assessment by EP, Sp&L by SALT, extensive academic baseline assessments and emotional wellbeing needs evaluations.
  • Bi-Weekly progress reports & an end-of-cohort review.
  • Personalised re-engagement plan.
  • Individual learning plan based on assessment outcomes.
  • A focus on EHCP update support informed by EP and SALT assessments reports.
  • Structured wellbeing assessments with therapeutic integration (social communications development, emotional regulation strategies, confidence and resilience building, joint problem solving approaches). This phase acts as a stabilising educational and therapeutic reset.
  • Multi agency liaison and input from: keyworkers, wellbeing tutors; designated SENDCo, Speech and Language Therapist and an Educational Psychologist; external professionals such as social workers, CAMHS, Virtual School Advisory Teachers.
  • A professional portfolio of assessments and recommendations to inform their next steps for the next setting.
  • Safeguarding oversight and monitoring.

Tier 2 (12 Weeks)

12 Week Support Programme for pupils who are on-roll and are at risk of permanent exclusion

  • 1:1 engagement and learning support from a therapeutic project worker, 5 days a week for 3 hours a day.
  • Daily 1:1 community activity engagement sessions.
  • Creation of ISPs for children or YPs.
  • Comprehensive cognitive assessment by EP, Sp&L by SALT, extensive academic baseline assessments and emotional wellbeing needs evaluation.
  • Bi-Weekly progress reports & an end-of-cohort review.
  • Personalised re-engagement plan.
  • A focus on EHCP update support informed by EP and SALT reports.
  • Providing a stabilising educational and therapeutic reset through a structured wellbeing assessments with therapeutic integration (social communications development, emotional regulation strategies, confidence and resilience building, joint problem solving approaches).
  • Multi agency liaison input from: keyworkers, wellbeing tutors; designated SENDCo, Speech and Language Therapist and an Educational Psychologist; external professionals such as social workers, CAMHS, Virtual School Advisory Teachers.
  • Intense focus on emotional regulation, emotional support, positive peer interactions etc to support YPs to re-enter an educational environment.
  • A professional portfolio of assessments and recommendations to inform their next steps for the YP’s next setting.
  • Safeguarding oversight and monitoring.

Tier 3 (24 Weeks)

24-Week Assessment and reintegration Programme
(for on-roll and off roll YPs)

  • 1:1 engagement and learning support from a therapeutic project worker, 5 days a week for 3 hours a day.
  • Daily 1:1 community activity engagement sessions.
  • Comprehensive: cognitive assessment by EP, Sp&L by SALT, extensive academic baseline assessments and emotional wellbeing needs evaluation.
  • Bi-Weekly progress reports & an end-of-cohort review
  • Personalised re-engagement plan.
  • Potential access to weekly wellbeing team interventions.
  • Comprehensive re-assessment package including EP and SALT reassessment and action plan with EHCP review support.
  • Providing an educational and therapeutic reset along with targeted and tailored support for progress with the remainder of the programme through structured wellbeing assessments with therapeutic integration (social communications development, emotional regulation strategies, confidence and resilience building, joint problem solving approaches).
  • Multi agency team input from: keyworkers, wellbeing tutors; designated SENDCo, Speech and Language Therapist and an Educational Psychologist; external professionals such as social workers, CAMHS, Virtual School Advisory Teachers.
  • Focus on academic development.
  • Project based and interest-led learning opportunities.
  • Development towards EP and SALT recommended next steps.
  • Week 12 to 24 (including the above):
  • A focus on academic activity to ensure the YP’s continued safeguarding of education through NEET prevention.
  • Enhanced access to tailored and bespoke community activities that enhance engagement and academic targets.
  • Access to qualifications and accreditations such as AQA/ ASDAN and access to Functional Skills development.
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  • Access to travel training and independent living skills.
  • Bespoke academic intervention programme.
  • Increased focus on independent learning skills.
  • Safeguarding oversight and monitoring.

Tier 4 (Academic Year)

Academic Year Support and reintegration (for on-roll and off roll YPs)

  • 1:1 engagement and learning support from a therapeutic project worker, 5 days a week for 3 hours a day.
  • Daily 1:1 community activity engagement sessions.
  • Comprehensive cognitive assessment by EP, Sp&L by SALT, extensive academic baseline assessments and emotional wellbeing needs evaluation.
  • Bi-Weekly progress reports & an end-of-cohort review.
  • Personalised re-engagement plan.
  • Potential access to weekly wellbeing team interventions.
  • Comprehensive re-assessment package including EP and SALT reassessment and action plan with EHCP review support.
  • Providing an educational and therapeutic reset along with targeted and tailored support for progress with the remainder of the programme through structured wellbeing assessments with therapeutic integration (social communications development, emotional regulation strategies, confidence and resilience building, joint problem solving approaches). Initially, this will act upon the base of information from assessments and then will develop into deeper change and greater stability before transition.
  • Multi agency team input from: keyworkers, wellbeing tutors; designated SENDCo, Speech and Language Therapist and an Educational Psychologist; external professionals such as social workers, CAMHS, Virtual School Advisory Teachers.
  • Extended broader curriculum access beyond core subjects.
  • Project based and interest-led learning opportunities.
  • Enhanced and broader access to qualifications and accreditations such as AQA/ ASDAN and access to Functional Skills development.
  • Enhanced academic activity focus to ensure the YP’s continued safeguarding to education through NEET prevention and development towards key targets developed by external professionals.
  • Tailored transition support package for children or YP’s next step (phase transfer, permanent re-entry into education setting either with Whitetrees or with another setting).
  • Enhanced and tracked academic interventions tailored to individual needs identified within external professional input with deeper therapeutic intervention.
  • Structured resilience programmes.
  • Social skills groups and peer interaction opportunities.
  • Speech and Language therapy blocks based on need.
  • Access to qualifications and accreditations such as AQA/ ASDAN and access to Functional Skills development with the development of a personal achievement portfolio and focused CV development work.
  • Bespoke academic intervention programme.
  • Increased focus on independent learning skills.
  • Safeguarding oversight and monitoring.

Schools Tier SENCo Outreach (Primary and Secondary)

  • Support with assessing young people’s needs.
  • Support with embedding inclusion.
  • Support with the creation and development of ISPs.
  • Support and development of APDR cycles for children and young people.
  • Support with EHCP creation, review and update.
  • Support with tracking SEND pupil progress and attainment data.
  • SEND attendance support.
  • Access to CPD for SENDCOs and other adults in school.
  • Support with 2026 Whitepaper compliance.
  • Support with VSEND data gathering and interpretation.
  • Ongoing mentoring of new SENCOs.
  • Support with the development of SEND action plans.
  • Collaboration and advice for inclusion aspects of School Development Plans.
  • School-specific tailored support upon request.