Those pupils usually find themselves dropping out of mainstream education altogether and they are left to carry on their learning at home with parents or private tutors.

But a new learning centre, based in Sudbury and Great Waldingfield, is offering an alternative to the often lonely pursuit of home learning.

The Oak Trees Learning Centre, which opened in September, aims to plug the gap between school and home education by tutoring a small group of children in an environment somewhere between the two.

Personal tutors and friends, Debbie Thomas and Clare Kiely, decided to set up the learning centre after finding more and more students struggling to cope with school life.

Reasons for this differ between individuals but can vary from bullying, teaching methods or just an inability to cope with the institutional atmosphere of schools.

"We both started to find that there were more children who were finding it difficult in schools," said Mrs Kiely. "That's not a criticism of schools, which do all they can, but some children just find it tough."

The pair agreed there was scope for a learning centre to bring some of these students together and bring them along, both educationally and socially, in an environment more relaxed than school.

And so Oak Trees was born.

Both the Sudbury and Great Waldingfield centres are houses, with the latter complete with a virtual mini-farm including pigs, chickens and a vegetable garden.

Children set the agenda, saying before the day what they want to learn, and are taught in groups of no more than six, allowing the two teachers to spend plenty of time with each pupil.

All the institutional aspect of schools, such as uniforms, timetables, bells and lunch hours, are stripped right away.

"Oak Trees can be a stepping stone for children wanting to get back into school, or somewhere children can stay for as long as they want," said Mrs Thomas, who is also a Sudbury town councillor.

"It gives the children the chance to come out of the house, mix with others and build up their confidence. They can see that they are no different to anyone else."

And the parents of pupils currently attending Oak Trees have certainly seen the difference in their children.

One mum, whose son has been at the centre since September, said: "The learning centre is a wonderful place for pupils to gain education. The relaxed atmosphere is perfect for bringing the best out of them and as a result they become really confident."

Mrs Kiely added: "When we first started the centre we were convinced it would work and to see the changes we have made to children, both emotionally and socially, has made it all worthwhile."

For more information on Oak Trees call Mrs Kiely on 01787 371654 or Mrs Thomas on 01787 37556 or email oak-trees@hotmail.co.uk