Key Stage 3
Key Stage 3 Provision
Supporting pupils to rebuild confidence and move forward
Rivers Education Support Centre provides full-time education for pupils in Years 7 to 9 who have been permanently excluded, or who are at risk of permanent exclusion, from secondary schools in the Broxbourne and East Hertfordshire area.
Short-Term Placements
Our Key Stage 3 provision offers short-term placements of up to 12 weeks, providing focused support at an important point in a young person's education.
Small-Group Learning
Pupils are taught in small groups and at a level appropriate to their needs, allowing staff to provide individual support and develop positive relationships.
Positive Next Steps
We work closely with schools and families to help pupils develop the confidence, behaviour and learning strategies needed to make positive progress.
Our Approach
Helping pupils experience success in learning
During a placement, we work closely with schools, parents and carers to help each pupil develop positive learning habits, confidence and strategies that support continued progress and, where appropriate, a successful return to mainstream education.
Strong relationships are central to our approach. We recognise individual strengths, identify barriers to learning and create opportunities for pupils to experience success.
Our Curriculum
Broad, balanced and inclusive
Our curriculum is informed by the National Curriculum and carefully linked to local mainstream schools, helping pupils maintain continuity in their learning.
English
Maths
Science
Humanities
Ethics
Art
Food Technology
PE
PSHE
World of Work
ICT
Design Technology
Enrichment
Mentoring
Working Together
Finding the right pathway
We work in partnership with mainstream schools, parents, carers and the local authority to identify the most appropriate next steps for each pupil.
01 Return to School
A planned and supported return to the pupil's existing mainstream school.
02 Managed Move
A supported move to another mainstream setting may be considered where appropriate.
03 EHCP Support
Where additional needs are identified, the next steps may include support through the EHCP process.
04 Specialist Provision
For some pupils, specialist provision may be identified as the most appropriate pathway.
Assessment & Personalised Support
Understanding each pupil's individual needs
When pupils join the Centre, they complete a baseline assessment process. This helps us identify their strengths, areas for development and any possible learning needs.
The outcomes are used to inform teacher planning, set meaningful targets and, where needed, support referrals for further professional advice.
✓ Small-group teaching
✓ Individual intervention
✓ Mentoring
✓ Strengths-based support
Referrals and Induction
Referrals to the KS3 Centre are made through the pupil's mainstream school. Before a placement begins, pupils and families are asked to agree to the Student Code of Conduct, and all induction paperwork and consents must be completed.
The School Day
A structured and supportive day
The Centre follows a secondary-style timetable. Pupils attend from 8:40am to 2:30pm and are taught in small groups with support from Centre staff.
Six Lessons Each school day
Small Groups Usually a maximum of five pupils
Centre Support Support throughout the school day
Attendance
Reporting an Absence
If your child is unable to attend Rivers ESC, please follow the absence reporting procedure below.
Before 9:15am
Please report an absence before the register closes. Contact the school on the first day of absence and on every further day that your child remains absent.
1
Contact us on the first day
Contact the school before 9:15am on the first day of your child's absence.
2
Keep us informed
Contact the school again before 9:15am on every further day that your child remains absent.
3
Return as soon as possible
Please ensure that your child returns to school as soon as they are able to do so.
4
Provide evidence if requested
Medical evidence may be requested where the school has reasonable doubt about the authenticity of an absence.
Report an absence using Studybugs
Absences can also be reported using the Studybugs app, available from your device's app store, or via the Studybugs website.
Report via StudybugsLeaving a voicemail? The school has an answerphone available if nobody is available to take your call. If you report an absence by voicemail, a member of staff may contact you to discuss the absence before a decision is made about whether it will be recorded as authorised.
Please note
WhatsApp messages sent to the school mobile will not be accepted as notification of absence.
WhatsApp messages sent to the school mobile will not be accepted as notification of absence.
Reintegration & Ongoing Support
Support doesn't stop when a pupil leaves
Before a pupil returns to mainstream education, careful planning takes place between Rivers ESC, the mainstream school and relevant agencies to ensure that the transition is well supported.
6
Six weeks of ongoing support
Pupils returning to mainstream education receive six weeks of support from the Rivers ESC Secondary Outreach Team. This helps pupils, families and schools maintain progress and build on the strategies developed during their placement.