Parents
Admissions and Referrals
The Gillford Centre is a local authority-maintained Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) providing education for pupils who require additional support outside mainstream education.
How are pupils referred?
All placements at The Gillford Centre are agreed and commissioned through Cumberland Council. Parents/carers and schools cannot directly commission a placement.
Referrals may be considered for pupils who have been permanently excluded from mainstream education, those at risk of permanent exclusion, or those requiring specialist support to address barriers to education.
What happens following a referral?
Once a placement has been agreed by Cumberland Council, The Gillford Centre works closely with the referring school, parents/carers and relevant professionals to arrange an appropriate transition.
This includes gathering information about the pupil's educational needs, safeguarding considerations, previous attainment and any additional support requirements.
An individualised approach is developed to support the pupil's successful introduction to the provision.
How long do pupils attend?
The Gillford Centre aims to provide appropriate, time-limited placements wherever possible, with a focus on supporting pupils to return to mainstream education when this is appropriate.
For pupils requiring longer-term specialist provision, we work closely with Cumberland Council, families and other professionals to identify suitable educational pathways.
Who should parents contact?
Parents/carers who believe their child may benefit from alternative provision should initially discuss their concerns with their child's current school or Cumberland Council.
For general enquiries about The Gillford Centre, please contact the school office using the details on our Contact page.
Other Provision and Referral Pathways
School 180
School 180 provides specialist Key Stage 4 education for pupils in Years 10 and 11, including commissioned places for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for social, emotional and mental health needs.
Placements are agreed through Cumberland Council in accordance with the relevant commissioning and statutory processes. School 180 also provides alternative provision placements for pupils requiring additional support outside mainstream education.
Parents/carers seeking information about a potential placement should initially contact their child's current school or Cumberland Council.
Hospital and Home Tuition Service (HHTS)
The Hospital and Home Tuition Service provides education for pupils who are unable to attend school because of medical needs.
Referrals are considered through the appropriate local authority arrangements and must be supported by relevant medical evidence outlining why the pupil is unable to attend school and what education they are medically able to access.
Following acceptance, the service works with families, schools and medical professionals to develop an appropriate individualised education programme.
Provision is regularly reviewed, with the aim of supporting pupils towards reintegration into school wherever medically appropriate.
Further Information
For further information about any of our provisions, please contact The Gillford Centre using the details on our Contact page.