Re-Engagement Department: Supporting Young People Back Into Learning

Re-engagement looks different for every young person. For some, it’s about rebuilding trust; for others, it’s about feeling heard, supported and ready to return to learning. This half term, the Re-Engagement Department has focused on relationship-led support to help young people reconnect at a pace that works for them.

A Relationship-Led Approach to Re-Engagement

This term, the Re-Engagement Department has prioritised supporting young people who have struggled to attend their sessions. Our approach centres on working closely with each young person and their family or carers, ensuring support is tailored, compassionate and responsive to individual circumstances.

By strengthening these relationships, we aim to create a positive and inclusive environment where young people feel valued, understood and motivated to re-engage with learning. This personalised approach helps reduce barriers to attendance and supports young people to take meaningful steps forward.

A Standout Re-Engagement Success

One particularly positive moment this term involved supporting a young person to successfully re-engage with tuition after a period of disengagement.

Alongside academic support, mentoring sessions were introduced, providing a safe space for the young person to express himself openly and build trust with staff. This combination of learning and emotional support proved highly effective.

As a result, the young person is now:

• Actively participating in tuition

• More confident in communicating his thoughts

• Making clear progress and showing renewed motivation
  

This example highlights the impact of taking a holistic, young-person-centred approach to re-engagement.

Working in Partnership to Support Every Young Person

Strong collaboration is central to the success of re-engagement work. The Re-Engagement Lead works closely with mentors, tutors and teachers, allowing early identification of when additional support may be needed.

These partnerships help ensure:

• Concerns are identified promptly

• Support is consistent and well-coordinated

• Young people receive the right level of guidance at the right time
  

By working together, we are better able to respond to challenges and support young people back into learning in a sustainable way.

Safeguarding and Supportive Home Visits

Safeguarding the wellbeing of young people remains a top priority at Our Future Tutoring. In some cases, this includes unannounced home visits, carried out in line with OFT policies and procedures.

These visits are intended to:

• Ensure young people are safe and supported

• Check that appropriate structures are in place for learning

• Provide reassurance and practical support where required
  

We understand that home visits may feel intrusive, and we want to reassure families that this is never our intention. Our focus is always on doing what is best for the young person, while maintaining a secure and supportive environment that enables engagement with learning.

Looking Ahead

As we move into the next half term, the Re-Engagement Department will continue to:

• Prioritise early intervention and relationship-building

• Work closely with families, carers and professionals

• Support young people back into learning in a flexible, respectful and supportive way
  

Our aim remains clear: to help every young person feel confident, safe and ready to engage with their education.