Vocational Programmes at Wild Minds
NOCN Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development (SET-PD)
Functional Skills: Maths and English.
Construction | Animal Care | Land Based Skills
Our Programme
Wild Minds offers specialist, vocational post-16 provision for young people aged 16–19 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who are unable to access or sustain mainstream further education.
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Our programmes provide a practical, therapeutic, and low-ratio alternative for learners who benefit from hands-on learning, consistent relationships, and a calm, structured environment. Many of the young people we support have experienced difficulties in larger college settings or require a more individualised approach to learning and development.
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Provision is delivered at our farm site in Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire, within small groups and with high levels of staff support.
Course Overview
Learners follow a vocationally focused programme designed to support employability, independence, confidence, and progression. Learning combines practical activity, functional skills, and personal development, with flexibility built in to support regulation and engagement.
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Students typically work towards:
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NOCN Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development (SET-PD)
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Functional Skills in Maths and English (where appropriate)
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Personal development and mentoring outcomes
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Programmes are usually delivered on a part-time basis, agreed in partnership with the commissioning body.
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Vocational pathways
Learners select an overarching vocational focus aligned with their interests, strengths, and future goals. Current pathways may include:
Animal Care
Hands-on experience caring for farm and rescue animals, with a focus on welfare, routine, responsibility, and practical animal management.
Construction and Land-Based Skills
Practical projects including carpentry, site maintenance, conservation, and land-based tasks, supporting the development of transferable vocational skills.
Horticulture and Environmental Skills
Learning linked to plant care, growing, land management, and environmental responsibility through practical outdoor work.
Motor Vehicle and Cycle Maintenance
Introduction to basic mechanics, maintenance, and servicing through practical, supported activities.
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All pathways integrate work-related learning, employability skills, and social and emotional development, supporting preparation for adulthood.
Who this provision is for?
This programme is suitable for young people who:
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Are aged 16–19 with an EHCP
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Have SEND, SEMH, or mental health needs, including autism, ADHD, anxiety, or trauma-related difficulties
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Learn best in a calm, low-stimulation environment
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Benefit from small groups and high staff support
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Are working around Entry Level to Level 2, without significant physical disabilities or profound learning difficulties
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Engage more effectively through practical, hands-on learning
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Group sizes are kept intentionally small, with consistent staff and a relational, trauma-informed approach.
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