Stop Gap Newcastle-under-Lyme
A short-term provision providing an individual pathway of help and support to young people who are struggling in school.
Welcome to Stop Gap Newcastle-under-Lyme! A Short-Term Alternative Provision for Primary & Secondary Pupils.
Stop Gap Newcastle-under-Lyme offers flexible, short-term alternative provision (AP) for both primary and secondary-aged students who require time away from mainstream education. Whether it’s due to emotional needs, behavioural challenges, or a breakdown in school placement, we provide a safe and structured environment where pupils can reset, rebuild, and re-engage.
A Targeted Approach.
Our provision is designed for children and young people who need:
- An intervention to stabilise their behaviour or emotional wellbeing
- Support prior to exclusion or placement breakdown
- A reintegration plan after persistent absence or school refusal
- A transition space before moving into a new school or specialist setting
With a blend of academic continuity and social-emotional support, Stop Gap Newcastle-under-Lyme helps learners step back into education with improved confidence and clearer direction.
Looking for a provision closer to Stafford?
Take a look at our Stop Gap Stafford site – offering the same trusted short-term alternative provision for primary pupils in a more convenient location for schools in Stafford and surrounding areas. Together, we’re building a network of provisions that schools can rely on – and pupils can grow within.
What We Offer.
At Stop Gap Newcastle-under-Lyme, we provide:
- Support and emotional regulation strategies
- Structured routines and clear behavioural expectations
- Small group learning and personalised learning pathways
- Regular reviews and close partnership with referring schools
- Support for both KS1–KS4 pupils
Our team brings experience from across the education, SEND and pastoral sectors—delivering consistent, high-quality provision for a wide range of learners.
Our Process.
A referral form would be submitted from school, an SLA would be populated and we would generally talk with significant parties to discuss and agree the desired outcomes, objectives and timescales. To request a referral from, please email: info@vipeducation.co.uk
A member of our support staff would arrange to meet with the young person, either within the home or at our provision.
We consider individual needs and plan our input, collating evidence from school and a significant adult.
A timetable is agreed with all relevant parties and Stop Gap staff will inform the school if the young person does not attend. This is always carried out within 30 minutes of the arranged start time.
As part of the induction, we will carry out a baseline assessment which will enable us to set personal targets for each young person. This is conducted on our platform (My Individual Pathway) and reviewed every six weeks.
We believe in regular contact with all relevant parties to ensure everyone is kept informed of changes to circumstances. Support staff will send weekly reports to school.
After six weeks of attending the Stop Gap provision, a meeting is conducted with all relevant parties to discuss the next steps, including additional reintegration support.
About the 'My Individual Pathway' Platform.
At Stop Gap, we use My Individual Pathway – a platform we have developed, tailored specifically to our alternative provision. It allows us to monitor each pupil’s progress through weekly updates and detailed reports every 4–6 weeks. When a pupil joins, we complete an initial baseline using our matrix system, which is then reviewed regularly to reflect their development. All staff involved with the pupil contribute to the reports, providing a well-rounded view of their journey. This collaborative approach helps us stay aligned with referring schools and ensures each pupil receives consistent, targeted support.
Academic Offer at Stop Gap Newcastle-under-Lyme.
We’re able to offer a range of courses for pupils to complete within our Stop Gap provision. These are mentored and taught by our experienced staff.
A small group tuition where pupils can gain an AQA certificate each time they successfully complete a unit of learning. This course consists of:
- Practical tasks
- Theory work
- Assessment
Students can build up a portfolio of certificates to evidence their skills, knowledge and experience. Our tutors select units they want to teach from an extensive library, some of these units can be completed in as little as one day.
A small group tuition aimed at high school students struggling to achieve the National Curriculum exams or NEET prevention. This course consists of :
- Practical exercises
- Theory work
- A multiple choice exam
Successful students will achieve a diploma award and a certificate within an area (or multiple areas) of beauty.Â
