Alternative Provision at Project rewild  

At Project Rewild we offer a range of Alternative Provision (AP) programmes to school children.

Our Rewild sessions have been developed to engage harder to reach students who may be struggling with emotional and behavioural challenges in school.

Our approach is to create positive and trusting relationships with young people in nature so we can empower them to push their own physical and emotional capabilities. We cover a huge range of hands on practical outdoor work and challenges. We also work on a range of reflective practices designed to improve emotional intelligence and wellbeing.

Feedback from participants in the 2021/22 school year show that regular sessions have improved children’s attendance, improved metal health and wellbeing, improved communication skills, improved relationships with students and adults, and helped children to enjoy school more.

We work in Schools offering outdoor learning projects such and woodland groups, growing and conservation groups.

We also offer two regular weekly groups throughout the year Free to Learn and Living Earth Project. Both are available to school children on a short, or long-term basis depending on individual need.

All of our work take place outside in nature, taking young people out of the classroom.

We aim to empower young people; we will help students to see and feel the joy of learning. We support them in their individual needs to improve their learning experiences and outcomes whilst here and in school. 

Practical skills: We teach hands on skills such as food growing, healthy cooking, conservation, woodcraft. All of which can be catered to individual need.

Personal development: Our groups allow time for group and individual discussions and activities to explore our emotions, managing our nervous system and our own behaviour. Understanding and improving personal wellbeing and mental health. We also explore individuals’ relationship with school and try to work through any barriers they feel towards mainstream education.

What is Alternative Provision?

Not all pupils are suited to mainstream education settings. And contrary to popular belief, it’s not just ‘naughty’ kids who benefit from Alternative Provision. Young people who do not attend mainstream school due to behavioural issues, short- or long-term illness, diagnosed and undiagnosed special educational needs, mental health needs or school exclusion may be referred to an alternative site provision.

Alternative provision should focus on the child’s needs and interests in a nurturing way that can help them build up their trust and confidence again, an opportunity to receive quality and consistent support, both in their educational achievements and their ongoing personal development.

Young people with a clear understanding of their potential and consistent support to help them achieve their goals often shape future communities. The more they engage and challenge themselves to achieve the more our young people focus on the bigger picture. Taking pride in their achievements and influencing others with their own stories can significantly lower antisocial behaviour and increase entrepreneurial spirit, benefitting everyone in our community.

Pupils may attend alternative provision full-time or part-time, with the rest of their education taking place at their usual school. They must receive an equivalent full-time education to their peers in mainstream schools.

There are many other reasons why a child might attend alternative provision, such as:

·       Mental health needs

·       School phobia/school refusal

·       Bullying

·       Medical needs

·       Persistent truancy

·       Being a young carer

·       Special educational needs

·       Emotional or Behavioural need.

·       Temporarily not having a school place, for example if they have moved to an area with no suitable school places or are an asylum seeker

Whether or not your child does reintegrate into mainstream school, it’s important to see their time in alternative provision as an opportunity, not a failure.
 
‘Alternative provision can do amazing work to rebuild children’s trust in adults and the education system,

‘A positive experience can make children feel less anxious and more confident again. This means they can access other educational settings and, paired with a successful transition, allow them to reach their potential.’

Laura Kerbey, founder of Neurodivergent Education Support and Training (NEST)