The Personalised Learning Centre

A Provision to Engage, Enthuse and Empower

The Personalised Learning Centre (PLC) is a provision within Leeds East Academy where students complete their academic work in small groups or one-to-one.

The main aim of the PLC is to empower students with the knowledge and confidence to recommence mainstream learning after an absence. Some students find attending lessons difficult due to lost learning, which can lead to some students missing more lessons as they do not understand the work they need to complete.

The PLC is lead by Ms Tonge, Inclusive Learning Support Leader, who has a background working as a HLTA (Higher Level Teaching Assistant) in a school for pupils with complex needs and challenging behaviours. She has 27 years experience in this field.

Ms Tonge explains how the learning process in the PLC: "The teaching is personalised and tailored towards the individual pupil's targets in order for them to succeed and challenge their current abilities. My aim for the pupils from the PLC is to improve attendance and behaviour, enabling the pupils to rejoin their classes within the school, with a renewed confidence in their own abilities to participate appropriately in everyday classroom situations and become successful in their outcomes."

A Transformative Programme of Support

Year 8 student Lyndell came to school every day, however he made some poor choices and was not making expected progress. Recently his standard of work has been transformed, as Ms Tonge explains: "The cycle of lost learning and poor behaviour for many of our students, including Lyndell, is something which the PLC is designed to tackle. Lyndell has not been removed from any lessons since attending the PLC; he has only been in Isolation once and the number of negative comments he receives each week has significantly reduced. The quantity and quality of work Lyndell has been producing is outstanding, demonstrating fantastic resilience!"

Lyndell adds: "The PLC is much easier to concentrate in as it is more one-to-one teaching which helps me concentrate on my work. Working in the PLC has stopped me going into Isolation and getting comments in my planner and I've produced a lot more work, which means when I go back into normal lessons I will understand what is being taught. I can join in more."

"I would like to thank Ms Tonge for the outstanding work we've seen from the PLC," said Mr Stokes. "We're striving towards outstanding attendance and the programme for support which the PLC provides is a crucial element in ensuring students regain momentum in their studies whilst maintaining the high standard of regular attendance we expect at the Academy."