EOTAS

Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) can look different for every young person.

At CN4C, we work across Cornwall to provide education built around each learner’s strengths, needs and interests. We begin by getting to know them and their family, then plan learning that can take place at home, in the community or at one of our centres.

Our aim is to help young people feel able to learn, make progress towards their agreed outcomes and have a say in what happens next.

EOTAS

Education shaped around the young person

Our EOTAS provision supports children and young people whose education needs to be provided outside a school setting. We plan each package with the young person, their family, the local authority and other professionals involved in their support.

There is no standard timetable or set route through our provision. The learning, location, pace and support are shaped around the individual and reviewed as we get to know what works for them.

Getting started

We listen to the young person and their family to understand their experiences of education, what they enjoy, what they find difficult and what helps them feel comfortable enough to take part.

For one learner, the starting point might be a short session at home with a familiar adult. For another, it might be a practical project or learning out in the community. We build from there together.

What might learning include?

An EOTAS package can bring together teaching, personal development and practical experiences. Depending on the young person’s goals, this might include:

English, maths or other learning linked to their interests and goals;
projects built around their interests;
cooking, travel training and skills for everyday life;
activities that develop communication, confidence and relationships;
learning in the community and opportunities to explore future options.

We look for ways to make learning relevant to the young person’s life and interests, while keeping their longer-term goals in view.

Building trust and making progress

For some young people, progress begins with getting to know a new adult, taking part in a short activity or trying a different place to learn. Our staff take time to understand how each learner communicates, responds to change and shows us what they need.

We review the package with the young person and the people involved in their support. As their needs and confidence change, we can adapt the activities and explore new opportunities. Joining a group or learning at a centre may be a goal for some learners; others will continue to learn in different settings.

Working together

Families know their young person well. We use their insight alongside the young person’s views and agreed education outcomes to plan and adapt support. We also work with the local authority and other professionals so that everyone understands the plan and the progress being made.

Young people should have a voice in their education: what they want to learn, where they feel able to learn and what a good next step looks like to them.

How to access EOTAS

EOTAS packages must be arranged through Cornwall Council. If you are a parent or carer interested in CN4C’s provision, speak to your Cornwall Council contact about whether it could be considered as part of the young person’s education package. Professionals can contact us to discuss what we offer, but referrals and placement arrangements need to come through the Council.