The Savio Centre

The Savio Centre currently serves multiple purposes:

• to support pupils who are at risk of exclusion
• to support pupils who, for whatever reason, are failing to cope well with lessons or other aspects of school life
• to protect pupils during investigations
• to support pupils with medical accessibility issues
• to sanction pupils for a short period of time as determined by the behaviour policy
• for pupils who have been disapplied from subjects

Pupils who are at Risk of Exclusion

Savio may be recommended as an alternative to a FTE with the approval of the Headmaster.  This should be recommended on an orange incident details sheet clearly stating the special consideration after consultation with the pastoral leads and Head of Year.

These special considerations may include, but not be limited to:

1. Where a pupil is at serious risk at home during the hours of the school day.
2. Where it is a first offence, and the pupil has been honest and expresses remorse.
3. Where a pupil has a SEND diagnosis which may need to be taken into account to explain the behaviour.
4. Where Savio is used as an alternative to Fixed Term Exclusion, the pupil concerned will have an extended day. The school day for pupils in the Savio Centre for behavioural reasons will end at 4pm.
5. One of the two individual booths/rooms should be used for this purpose. 
6. No more than two pupils can be placed into the Savio Centre as an alternative to Fixed Term Exclusion at any one time. 
7. No pupil is to be placed in Savio for a sanction (in lieu of a Fixed Term Exclusion) without the approval from the headmaster or in his absence the Deputy Head.  This should be recommended on an orange incident details sheet clearly stating the special consideration after consultation with the pastoral leads and Head of Year.

Pupils who are failing to cope well with lessons or other aspects of school life

Savio may be used by a Head of Year or pastoral lead in extreme circumstances if a pupil is presenting as distressed or agitated. This should be for no longer than one period without an intervention conversation with a pastoral lead or Head of Year as appropriate.  All instances of this will be recorded in PARS so that patterns can be identified, and targeted intervention can be offered going forward.  Assistant Head SENCO & Inclusion must be informed of a pupil coming to Savio without delay or they may be sent back.

Protect pupils during investigation

When pupils are placed into Savio pending investigation it is important for the pupil to understand that they are not being sanctioned at this time.  No pupil may be placed into Savio for this purpose with approval from a pastoral lead.  Pupils should not be left for any significant period without an update. This is a possible alternative to the use of Damascus or the need to have two pupils in separate locations.

Supporting pupils with medical accessibility issues

Pupils with medical conditions and supporting evidence may be placed in the Savio if a risk assessment determines that they are at risk of harm when moving around the school. This will be arranged by the Head of Year in consultation with the Assistant Head SENCO & Inclusion.

Pupils who have been disapplied from subjects

No pupil should be in Savio as an alternative to lessons that has not been agreed by the headmaster under recommendation for the Assistant Head responsible for academic achievement. 

Work in Savio

Heads of Department are responsible for ensuring that there is a range of quality work for each year group in the Savio.  Where possible, this work should not involve the use of a computer.  The Assistant Head (SENCO & Inclusion) will co-ordinate with the Assistant Head responsible for academic achievement to ensure that this work is relevant and quality.

No pupil should be disadvantaged by being placed in the Savio.

Informing Staff

The Assistant Head (SENCO & Inclusion) will ensure that all pupils are input into the Savio register located on PARS with the expected number of days.  Staff are expected to check this list each morning to ensure that pupils are not reported for missing lessons and to ensure that quality work is available.  It should be avoided to send pupils with work down to Savio.

The Teaching Assistants involved will input on PARS the intervention that has taken place each day for each pupil.  This could be 1:1 work on coping strategies such as anger management or coping with anxiety.  The Teaching Assistants will assist pupils with their work and record any issues that the class teachers need to follow up.

Accessing Savio

Pupils may not self-select to attend the Savio Centre unless this is agreed as part of their pupil profile or consistent approach plan. Pupils who may need to use the Savio Centre as a ‘safe space’ should be recorded on the Savio register as occasional / safe space users. Any pupil not recorded on the register must be returned to lessons. Pupils who repeatedly try to access the Savio Centre without prior agreement will be subject to disciplinary sanctions.