Education is provided in a number of ways:

a) At a Learning Centre (also known as a Pupil Referral Unit or Short Stay School)

b) At other venues or with other providers but arranged and managed by the learning centres

c) In the Children's Education Unit, West Dorset General Hospital

Learning centres

Currently there are five learning centres; these are all registered as schools by the Department for Education (DfE). The purpose of a learning centre is to provide alternative education for those pupils who, for a number of reasons, are unable to access mainstream school. Pupils may have been permanently excluded from school, be at risk of exclusion and dual registered with their mainstream school, be unable to attend school for medical reasons or be experiencing other difficulties.

Hospital tuition

Dorset County Council's Children's Services in collaboration with the West Dorset General Hospital NHS Trust, provide a tuition unit at West Dorset General Hospital. Two members of staff are employed to respond to a wide variety of educational needs across all age groups. At any given time the unit may need to respond to up to 20 pupils who are also patients, contact details are available.

Advice on Exclusions

The COOS service also offers training, advice and support to Headteachers, Governors, pupils and parents on all aspects of exclusion, both fixed -term and permanent. Please contact the Schools Exclusion Guidance and Training Officer for further details.

• Head of Children Out Of School Service
  Name: Pam Pyke
  Email: p.pyke@dorsetcc.gov.uk
  Tel: 01305 228658
  Fax: 01305 224348
  Full details for Pam Pyke