Information for Professionals

There are two routes into St Helens Alternative Provision Service. Either as a result of a permanent exclusion or via a referral for a dual registered placement via TESSA.

• St Helens Alternative Provision Service provides tailored educational support for children and young people who may be struggling to engage fully in a mainstream school setting.

• Through specialised support programs and placements within its Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) - PACE and Launchpad - the service aims to help each child overcome personal, social, and academic barriers to learning.

• The PRUs offer structured, short-term placements designed to re-engage pupils in their education, improve their confidence, and support positive outcomes.

• The goal is to enable students to successfully reintegrate into mainstream schooling or move on to further education, training, or employment.

Expectations for Schools - A TESSA Triage Referral

• The child or young person should typically already be receiving support from TESSA (TESSA Behaviour, TESSA Autism, TESSA Education Welfare, or TESSA Inclusion) as part of a Graduated Approach.

• Request for additional support is highly likely to have been discussed in a multi-professional meeting or during an EHCP review.

• If the child or young person is already receiving TESSA support, a new referral form is not necessary.

• However, in cases where a child is not yet known to TESSA, please contact TESSA at the Hive for guidance on next steps. In such cases, a TESSA Triage referral will be required to consider Alternative Provision.

• The PACE and Launchpad Pupil Referral Units offer alternative education for children across all key stages. Children allocated a place will remain dual registered with their mainstream schools.

Expectations for Children, Young People, and their Families

• Full engagement with the curriculum is required, as there are high standards for participation.

• The child’s specific personal, social, and academic needs will be identified and supported to overcome any barriers to learning.

• Motivation, self-confidence, attendance, and engagement are key focus areas, aiming to improve outcomes for every pupil.

• Clear objectives will be set, including goals for the short-term placement and the next steps, such as reintegration into mainstream education, further education, or training.