A damning report by Estyn on a Pembrokeshire County Council learning centre, has left the facility in special measures.

Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales has stated that it has made several recommendations to help Pembrokeshire Learning Centre, following the report published this month.

The report on the facility, which is based in Neyland, states: ‘Overall curriculum planning and delivery are underdeveloped, with no overarching schemes of work and inconsistent planning across subjects and areas of learning experience. Assessment processes are at an early stage of development, and feedback and marking are inconsistent, restricting pupils’ understanding of their progress.

‘Provision for literacy and numeracy is improving but remains variable. As a result, the progress that pupils make is inconsistent. Opportunities for pupils to develop social, independent, and physical skills are limited.

‘Behaviour management is inconsistent, fixed-term exclusions are high and learning environments are sometimes unsafe. Attendance remains low, and Pastoral Support Plans for pupils on reduced timetables are not consistently applied. Safeguarding systems are generally robust, and staff understand their responsibilities.

‘Provision for pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) is variable. Individual Development Plans are not always implemented effectively, limiting support for individual needs.

‘Monitoring and evaluation systems are developing but are inconsistently applied, and over time leaders have not made sufficient progress in addressing the recommendations from the previous inspection.’

A statement released by the Local Authority, following the report, says: “Pembrokeshire County Council acknowledges the outcome of the recent Estyn inspection of Pembrokeshire Learning Centre (PLC) and accepts the inspectors’ conclusions,

“The Council is fully committed to addressing the recommendations and driving improvement at pace.”

The Local Authority and the school is now required to submit a detailed action plan to Estyn by February 5, setting out how each recommendation will be met.

Pembrokeshire Council says that work on this plan is well underway, and a number of significant actions have already been implemented, including:

· Additional staffing at all levels across the Pembrokeshire Learning Centre to strengthen leadership and classroom support.

· Rapid planning to address site condition issues highlighted in the report, ensuring safe and fit-for-purpose learning environments.

· Strengthening governance through the appointment of additional members to the Management Committee, bringing expertise and challenge to support improvement.

“These immediate steps reflect the determination to provide pupils with a safe, nurturing environment and high-quality teaching that meets their needs,” continued the statement from PCC.

“The Council is confident that the necessary improvements can be made quickly and effectively, and look forward to demonstrating this progress to Estyn during their monitoring visits.”

Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, Cllr Guy Woodham, said: “Our priority is the wellbeing and success of every pupil.

“We have acted swiftly to strengthen leadership, improve facilities, and enhance governance. We are committed to working closely with Estyn and our partners to ensure that Pembrokeshire Learning Centre delivers the high standards our learners deserve.”

Despite the challenges identified, Estyn recognised several important strengths at Pembrokeshire Learning Centre, PCC stated, including:

· Leaders articulate a clear vision prioritising pupils’ wellbeing, underpinned by a trauma-informed approach.

· Many pupils who attend regularly report feeling safe due to strong staff-pupil relationships.

· The management committee brings a broad range of relevant expertise and skills.

· The qualifications offer for older pupils has strengthened since the last inspection, supporting pupils effectively in moving to suitable next steps in education, training or employment.

The statement from PCC added: “These strengths provide a solid foundation for improvement and demonstrate the commitment of staff and leaders to supporting pupils’ wellbeing and future success.

“The Council will continue to keep parents, carers, and the wider community informed through regular updates and engagement events.”

Further details of the post inspection action plan will be published on the Pembrokeshire Learning Centre website in the coming weeks, PCC has confirmed.