​​​Our alternative provision (AP) offer is for young people who aren’t accessing full-time education due to their mental health. This offers a unique way of learning outside of a traditional setting. Our AP Lead is Beth (qualified teacher and counsellor), supported by Jess (children's counsellor) and Georgie (AP Practitioner).

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We offer 1 or 2 days AP per week for secondary school age children, for primary age children we offer 1 or 2 hours on a Tuesday.

 

Our ethos is therapeutic first, educational second. Children cannot learn if their wellbeing is compromised and much of our early work is helping them to feel safe and comfortable in our environment, before working towards EHCP/EOTAS goals. We currently offer the ABRS+ rosettes and stable management awards, which can be completed as part of the provision.

 

Hope Meadows works from relational principles, wherein change starts through secure, trusting relationships with others. Young people attending our provision for longer durations often experience significant changes in their confidence interacting with others.

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Each AP day starts with the horses, to support a calm, grounded transition into the environment. From there, a variety of activities can take place. Once a young person is ready for learning, we encourage them to take ownership of projects that they genuinely care about and are interested in.

 

The current group have been renovating the garden, transforming it from an overgrown, unusable space into a thriving area for growing fruit and vegetables which they plan to sell. They have also created new seating areas for therapy clients, set up fencing, cared for the horses, and will be getting some rescue hens later this year. ​​Regardless of their interests, we aim to equip young people with the practical skills, confidence, and self-awareness to meet their goals, whatever they may be.​​​​​