Purpose
To ensure that any reduced timetable is used only as a short-term, temporary therapeutic re-engagement strategy. The policy protects core curriculum entitlement, safeguarding and Independent School Standards compliance while a young person rebuilds readiness for a fuller programme.
Scope
All students placed at Evolution Education, their families, referring schools, local authorities, and staff responsible for timetabling, pastoral support, safeguarding and commissioner reporting.
Definitions
- Reduced timetable: a temporary, planned reduction in weekly on-site or taught hours below the learner's usual full programme.
- Re-engagement strategy: a time-limited plan to rebuild attendance, regulation and learning readiness, never a sanction.
- Core entitlement: guaranteed access to English Language, Mathematics, STEM, Creative Studies or Cooking, and Careers provision.
- THRIVE: Targeted Holistic Review, Intervention and Vocational Evaluation, Evolution Education's multi-disciplinary review framework.
Responsibilities
- The Leadership Team authorises any reduced timetable and ensures commissioner agreement where required.
- The THRIVE multi-disciplinary team reviews each reduced timetable at least bi-weekly, monitors welfare contacts, and decides step-up, continuation or exit from the arrangement.
- Key Adults maintain daily welfare contact expectations set in the risk assessment and personal plan.
- Referring schools and local authorities receive review outcomes and remain partners in safeguarding and placement decisions.
- Families are informed of the plan, review dates and how learning continues.
Procedures
Rationale and safeguarding context
Reduced timetables are used exclusively as a short-term, temporary therapeutic re-engagement strategy for pupils showing severe dysregulation, acute crisis or extreme disengagement. A reduced timetable is never used as a sanction or as a permanent track.
Statutory compliance (ISS Part 1 and Part 3)
- Core entitlement guarantee: every student on a reduced timetable retains guaranteed access to core English Language, Mathematics, STEM, Creative Studies or Cooking, and Careers provision.
- Time-limited duration: reduced timetables are capped at a maximum of 6 weeks, with mandatory bi-weekly reviews by the THRIVE team.
- Risk assessment and safeguarding: a comprehensive risk assessment is finalised before implementation, establishing off-site safety protocols and daily welfare contacts with the student's Key Adult.
Starting a reduced timetable
- Evidence of need is recorded (attendance, regulation, safeguarding and learning impact).
- Risk assessment and personal plan are completed, including off-site arrangements and daily welfare contact.
- Leadership authorises the plan; the commissioning school is informed and agreement confirmed where required.
- Families are told the purpose, hours, review dates and how core learning continues.
- Delivery of core entitlement is timetabled explicitly (live teaching and/or Purple Ruler as appropriate).
Review and ending the arrangement
- Bi-weekly THRIVE review checks engagement, welfare, core learning access and readiness to increase hours.
- Hours increase as soon as evidence supports it.
- By week 6 the arrangement ends, moves to a fuller programme, or is exceptional-case reviewed with the commissioner and recorded with clear rationale. Leadership confirms any exceptional extension route before use.
Monitoring
The Leadership Team and THRIVE monitor all reduced timetables through review logs, attendance and welfare records, learning evidence, safeguarding oversight and commissioner feedback. Patterns inform training and school improvement.
Review Cycle
This policy is reviewed at least annually, or sooner after significant incidents, statutory change or Leadership direction. Next formal review date to be confirmed by Leadership.
Related Policies
Attendance; Behaviour for Learning; Safeguarding and Child Protection; SEND; Risk Assessment; Curriculum; Admissions; Temporary Placement Withdrawal and Emergency Placement Review; Health and Safety; Equality, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination.
Legislation
This policy has regard to the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014, Keeping Children Safe in Education (latest DfE edition), Working Together to Safeguard Children, the Equality Act 2010, and DfE guidance on part-time timetables and alternative provision. Where Independent School registration is completed, this policy will be reviewed against any updated registration conditions.