The provision provides educational support for children and young people aged 4 to 18 who cannot attend their enrolle school due to a range of medical needs including mental health.  Most pupils are dual registered with their mainstream or special school.

We are the main provision for meeting the requirements of 'Ensuring a good education for children who cannot attend school because of health needs'  (DFE May 2013).

Teaching takes place in the context of safe and nurturing environments where each young person's individual needs are addressed. We promote access to high quality education and provide personalised learning and support for young people so that they are enabled to make progress in their learning, with their wellbeing remaining at the centre of decision making.  Our teaching and support helps our young people successfully transition back to their home school or the next phase in their education.

We work hard to give all of the young people the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to progress and achieve, socially and emotionally as well as academically.   In addition, we aim to help restore their self-confidence, self-esteem, and develop their resilience in order to be able to cope in their chosen educational or vocational destination. We firmly believe that all our pupils can achieve, regardless of their personal circumstances and medical or mental health condition.

“Caring and professional staff, fantastic individualised approach to student; excellent balance between support and expectations; excellent understanding of needs of student and implement action of appropriate provision.  Going the extra mile in terms of communication, with parent and home school.  Professional organisation of curriculum and examinations.  I really can’t speak highly enough of the unit school, it has made all the difference to my daughter’s onward recovery, because she has been able to reintegrate straight back into mainstream at the same point as her peers.  Thank you!”

The Medical Provision is made up of three sections –

• Marlborough House, The Adolescent Unit School – A Tier 4 Child and adolescent Mental Health Unit (CAMHS) which is part of Oxford Health (Students aged 11-18)

• Hospital, Education, Tuition and Outreach Service (HETOS)

• The Children's Unit, Great Western Hospital in Swindon (age range: 4-18)

• Medical Tuition Service (Students aged 4-16)

Staff carry out regular ward rounds at the Great Western Hospital to ensure students can access learning, as their health allows.

Schools can refer a young person for tuition if they are unable to access a school.

We work very closely with multi-agency colleagues from Health, CAMHS and other professional teams such as SEND and Social Services.