Make a Referral
Whether you are a school, SENCO, local authority professional, social worker, parent or carer, we would be happy to discuss how we can support a young person.
Contact us today to discuss a bespoke programme tailored to individual needs, interests and outcomes.
Why Referrers Choose Us
✓ Relationship-led approach
✓ Highly personalised programmes
✓ SEND-informed practice
✓ Experienced mentors
✓ Flexible delivery model
✓ Outdoor and practical learning opportunities
✓ Home and community-based provision
✓ Clear communication with professionals
✓ Progress monitoring and reporting
✓ Focus on wellbeing, confidence and engagement
✓ Support for some of the most difficult-to-engage young people
Working Together
We regularly work alongside:
- Schools
- SENCOs
- Local Authorities
- SEND Teams
- EHCP Coordinators
- Educational Psychologists
- Inclusion Teams
- Social Workers
- Family Support Teams
- Parents and Carers
Our collaborative approach ensures consistency and helps create sustainable long-term outcomes.
Flexible Delivery
Provision can take place:
- At home
- Within the community
- At agreed venues
- In outdoor environments
- Across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Through a blended approach
Programmes can be delivered from a few hours per week to intensive packages depending on need and funding arrangements.
EHCP Outcomes and Evidence of Progress
We recognise that schools, local authorities and parents need to see measurable progress.
Our provision can contribute towards outcomes relating to:
- Emotional wellbeing
- Attendance readiness
- Social communication
- Independence
- Community engagement
- Self-confidence
- Emotional regulation
- Sensory regulation
- Relationships with trusted adults
- Engagement with learning
- Preparation for educational transitions
Regular reports can be provided detailing:
- Engagement levels
- Attendance
- Activities completed
- Progress against agreed targets
- Areas of development
- Recommendations for next steps
Specialist SEND Understanding
Our team has experience supporting young people with:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ADHD
- PDA profiles
- Anxiety disorders
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Sensory processing differences
- Dyslexia
- Social communication needs
- School-based trauma
- EBSA
- SEMH needs
We understand that behaviours are forms of communication and that every intervention must be flexible, responsive and neurodiversity-affirming.
Beyond Traditional Alternative Provision
Whilst many providers focus heavily on classroom-based learning, our programmes are designed to engage young people who often struggle with conventional educational approaches.
Many of our young people respond best to:
Outdoor Activities
Including:
- Woodland walks
- Nature exploration
- Beach visits
- Environmental projects
- Bushcraft activities
- Wildlife observation
- Gardening projects
- Conservation activities
- Community exploration
These experiences provide natural opportunities to develop confidence, communication, resilience and emotional regulation.
Creative and Practical Activities
Including:
- Arts and crafts
- Model building
- Design projects
- Photography
- Creative technology
- Problem-solving challenges
- Practical construction activities
- Project-based learning
Young people often find success through practical experiences where they can demonstrate strengths that may not be visible within a classroom environment.
We Do Not Believe One Size Fits All
Every programme is individually designed.
Support can include:
- Home-based mentoring
- Community-based mentoring
- Outdoor learning
- Nature-based activities
- Animal-focused experiences
- Creative projects
- Arts and crafts
- Confidence-building activities
- Life skills development
- Social communication support
- Emotional regulation work
- Community engagement
- Independence skills
- Transition support
Activities are selected around the young person’s interests, needs and EHCP outcomes.
What Makes Us Different
Relationships Come First
Many young people referred to alternative provision have experienced multiple placement breakdowns.
Often this happens because adults move too quickly into education-focused interventions before trust has been established.
We understand that meaningful progress starts with connection.
Our mentors take time to build genuine, trusting relationships through shared interests, consistency and positive experiences.
We meet young people where they are emotionally and developmentally.
Who We Support
We work with children and young people aged 5-18 who may be:
- Out of education
- At risk of exclusion
- Permanently excluded
- Experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
- Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Diagnosed with ADHD
- Awaiting assessment or diagnosis
- Experiencing anxiety or low self-esteem
- Struggling with social interaction and friendships
- Finding mainstream environments overwhelming
- Educated through EHCP provision
- Receiving support through SEN Support
- Accessing Education Other Than At School (EOTAS)
- Requiring bespoke mentoring provision
- Needing a gradual pathway back into education
PIONEERS HOME ED CLUB
Pioneers helps teens gain real-life skills, qualifications, and valuable experience, including optional Duke of Edinburgh support, volunteering, expeditions, and leadership development in an inspiring outdoor setting.
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Pioneers’ is our teen group, with the main focus being on gaining real life skills and qualifications that participants will be able to add to their Curriculum Vitae,(CV), one of which being the optional Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. We will also focus on skills and attributes to help young people into employment or further education. Whether or not young people sign up to a DofE award, all participants will be able to do some volunteering and work experience in this group, as well as building on skills and physical activities that they may have learnt in our Wanderer’s or Adventurer’s groups.
There will also be the opportunity to complete a couple of expeditions which will include some hiking and overnight camping and various times during the year.
Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Optional sign up to Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
- Navigation skills which will include map and compass work, bearings and navigation using nature
- Volunteering: This may be in the form of creating new spaces/resources for younger groups or building areas for nature to thrive
- Learning to Coach activities at NGB standards
Plan and deliver sessions to peers or younger groups. - Campcraft: Set up camps, plan and cook a meal on a travel stove or fire, learn about different types of outdoor equipment and their uses
- Overnight camps
- Team and Leadership Games: Participants will learn to work in teams and complete leadership/pioneering challenges such as crate stacking, crossing the lava river, building a giant slingshot or playing games like man hunt and capture the flag. They will also have the opportunity to lead these activities
Pioneers is aimed at ages 13+ (school year 9 and above)
ADVENTURERS HOME ED CLUB
Designed for home educated children aged 11 to 15, Adventurers builds confidence through target sports, bushcraft, and strategic team challenges in a supportive outdoor setting.
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Our Adventurers HomeEd Club, for ages 11-15, takes things up a notch by focusing on target sports, strategic team games, and pushing kids to step outside their comfort zones. Held on Tuesdays from 13:00-14:30, this weekly session offers a rotating mix of activities such as Nerf battles, survival and bushcraft skills, archery (coached to GB Archery standards), air rifle shooting, axe throwing, tree climbing, crate stacking, mountain biking, and team-building challenges. Kids will develop new skills, work on leadership, and have a blast in the great outdoors!
‘Wildlings’ will move up to Adventurers when children, adults and instructors feel they are ready. ‘Adventurers’ is our weekly HomeEd club which focuses on coaching target sports, more strategic team games and pushing children to get out of their comfort zones. As with ‘Wildlings’, activities run on a rotation throughout the term.
Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Nerf Battles: Children can bring their own guns if they wish.
- Survival scenarios and bushcraft
- Forest School Activities: Crafts using natural things we find in the woods; They might whittle a spoon/knife/spear, create dream catchers, make a throwing stick, clay play etc
- Archery: Coached to GB Archery Syllabus
- Air Rifle Shooting: Coached by GB Shooting instructors.
- Tree Climbing and crate stack
- Axe Throwing: Viking training!
- Team and Leadership Games: Children will learn to work in teams and complete leadership/pioneering challenges such as crate stacking, crossing the lava river, building a giant slingshot or playing games like man hunt and capture the flag.
- Mountain biking: Children will be coached on riding positions, pre-ride checks, how to roll and jump over berms and jumps.
WANDERERS HOME ED CLUB
Wanderers is designed for home educated children aged 8 to 15, offering weekly outdoor sessions focused on bushcraft, target sports, and strategic team challenges. Join now!
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Wanderers is open to Home Schooled children ages 8-15. We will be running the same activities as our Tuesday sessions. In our weekly HomeEd club we focus on Bushcraft, target sports, strategic team games and pushing children to get out of their comfort zones. Activities run on a rotation throughout the term where we encourage everyone to have a go at all our activities.
Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Nerf Battles: Children can bring their own guns if they wish.
- Survival scenarios and bushcraft
- Forest School Activities: Crafts using natural things we find in the woods; They might whittle a spoon/knife/spear, create dream catchers, make a throwing stick, clay play etc
- Archery: Coached to GB Archery Syllabus
- Air Rifle Shooting: Coached by GB Shooting instructors.
- Tree Climbing and crate stack
- Axe Throwing: Viking training!
- Team and Leadership Games: Children will learn to work in teams and complete leadership/pioneering challenges such as crate stacking, crossing the lava river, building a giant slingshot or playing games like man hunt and capture the flag.
- Mountain biking: Children will be coached on riding positions, pre-ride checks, how to roll and jump over berms and jumps.
WILDLINGS HOME ED CLUB
Wildlings is a weekly club where Home schooled children get to participate in activities and play with other home educated children at our wonderful woodland site in Lytchett Minster, Poole.
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Join our weekly HomeEd Club for children ages 5-10, where they’ll learn, play, and explore the outdoors with peers in a fun and engaging environment. Held on Tuesdays from 10:30-12:00 during term time, this session offers a variety of activities including Nerf battles, survival skills, forest crafts, archery, tree climbing, mountain biking, and team-building games. Children will develop new skills, work together on challenges, and have a blast in the great outdoors!
Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Nerf Battles: Children can bring their own guns if they wish.
- Survival scenarios where children make fires, build dens and forage food.
- Forest School Activities: Crafts using natural things we find in the woods; They might whittle a spoon, clay play, make a throwing stick or create your own paint.
- Archery: Children will become mini-Robin Hood’s and master shooting bows and arrows at targets.
- Tree Climbing and crate stack
- Mountain biking
- Team and Leadership Games: Children will learn to work in teams and complete leadership/pioneering challenges such as crossing the lava river, building a giant slingshot or playing games like man hunt and capture the flag.