Who we are…

Pathways Learning Centre (PLC) is a specialist Alternative Provision (AP) Academy and proud to be part of Enable Trust.

We provide educational placements for young people who live in South Gloucestershire and Bristol.  Some pupils attend for a short period, and some attend long term, either because PLC is providing the ongoing support pupils need, or where PLC is named in the pupils Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).  In some cases pupils with EHCPs not named to PLC also stay for an extended placement, while the Local Authority find a suitable long term placements in another specialist settings. 

There are a variety of reasons why children or young people might secure a placement at PLC, but these include; significant medical needs,  severe anxiety, mental health needs, social and emotional difficulties, or other Special Educational Needs or Difficulties.

PLC is commissioned for 170 places across four different units, or ‘provisions’. These are set up slightly differently to meet the age or needs of children and young people. 

  • Cotswold – A 70 place, on site Secondary provision, made up of of 8 classes for KS3 and KS4 pupils, typically for pupils with medical needs and who may require a longer term placement.
  • Fosse – An 18 place, on site Primary provision, made up of 3 classes for Ks1 and KS2 pupils.
  • Frome – A 30 place, on site and hybrid Secondary provision, made up of 6 classes, for KS3 and KS4 short stay pupils, including those who have been permanently excluded and are looking to reintegrate successfully into a other mainstream school
  • Home Tuition / Hybrid support – A 52 place, off site provision, supporting children from Y1 – Y11.  Our off site all-through provision supports children and young people who are unable to attend on site, typically due to a range of complex medical or other needs.

Pupils with EHCPs are placed in the provision most suited to meeting their age related and SEND needs.

All pupils have access to highly skilled staff, including subject specialist teachers, small class sizes or 1:1 tuition, and significate social and emotional support and intervention where appropriate.