Information for Schools and Colleges

We are a grassroots charity and registered AP and support students from more than 30 schools across Somerset (and a few in Devon), we are happy to accept students of any age or ability from local schools. It is not essential that the student has received a diagnosis or has an EHCP. Many students who come to us have highly complex or severe SEMH needs and find mainstream education and social settings challenging.  

Our services are geared to setting young people up for success by providing sustainable, life changing experiential learning leading to a sense of belonging, wellbeing and self-worth. We work in a trauma informed approach and we are creative and innovative in our work to respond to the ever-changing needs of our learners offering opportunities to re-engage with life and learning.  

Further more for schools and colleges we encourage co-operative working and exchange of skills. For instance some educational establishments bring students to practice their cookery in our cafe and others rent out forest school. Please get in touch if this might be of interest.

Our work is centred around the broad areas of need identified in the SEND code of practice:

  • communication and interaction
  • cognition and learning
  • social, emotional and mental health difficulties
  • sensory and/or physical needs

Mentors come from a variety of different backgrounds and bring a host of exceptional skills and experiences to draw on. We nurture and invest greatly in our team including training in Thrive Approach, Trauma Informed Approach, Safeguarding and First Aid. Many also bring their own lived experience which means we can offer unique and insightful care for even the most obscure needs – whatever it is, we normally get to the bottom of it!

We offer Thrive Approach for the younger students and all our work is based around trauma informed principles of building connections and trusting relationships with emotionally available adults in a safe non-judgemental environment.

Our sessions are bespoke and person centred, so each mentor plans their sessions around the needs of the individual, and often their specific needs for that day.  Although we are not prescriptive in our approach or driven by set outcomes, we always strive to help young people re-engage with education or the workplace whichever is the most appropriate for that individual.

Sessions can be funded privately, by EHCP or other means and most will commit to a minimum of 10 sessions in order to achieve long lasting results.  In the first instance and for more information please contact the office by phone or email.

Pick up the phone and speak to us – the number is 01823 433614

WhatsApp us on:
07521 775575

Further resources for education

Some of our facilities such as our café with kitchen, yurt, woodland and riding arenas can also be available for educational establishments who wish to bring groups of students for work experience or experiential learning such as cooking, learning crafts, woodland activities etc.  

Examples include that currently two local colleges are using the kitchen in our café for work experience for students with additional needs.  

We are also happy to welcome students going through their Duke of Edinburgh Awards, by prior arrangements.

Helpful information about our work:

  • We are registered as an Alternative Provider with Somerset County Council SCC
  • Have a look at our facilities page to see the comprehensive list of facilities we offer.
  • Our work with young people who find mainstream education limiting, is essentially to provide an environment that removes the barriers to learning and working towards improved wellbeing.  Sessions are structured to offer experiential learning working with nature and the animals, to explore alternative thoughts on why eg; healthy eating, maths and hygiene are important life skills.  Many students successfully return to mainstream education or go on to feel confident to apply for further education or employment.
  • Mentors are trained in trauma informed principles and offering young people positive connections, non-judgemental trusting relationships and emotionally available adults. Trauma Informed Schools UK
  • For younger children and those with developmental delay syndrome, Thrive Approach is a positive support approach alongside our nature and animal based therapeutic work. The proven benefits of Biophilia (working with nature and animals) plays a significant part in the success of our work.
  • Play is essential for development.  As an alternative to talking therapies Play Therapy  helps children explore and express their thoughts and feelings and to make sense of their life experiences through play and the creative arts. Play therapy can benefit all children, but it is particularly beneficial for children who find it hard to express themselves verbally.
  • We value 2 or 3-way communication and use MyConcern as our chosen Safeguarding tool.  You can read more about our safeguarding policy in this link.
  • We have a 4 week cancellation policy.