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Welcome to Wild Minds
Nurturing Through Nature
Wild Minds Alternative Provision is a specialist, high-needs alternative education provision supporting young people aged 11–25 with complex SEND, SEMH, and mental health needs. Many of the young people we support have experienced repeated placement breakdowns or have been unable to thrive in mainstream or larger alternative settings.
Wild Minds Alternative Provision is delivered across a small number of campuses across North and South Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, including our farm-based provision. Each campus offers a calm, structured, therapeutic environment designed for learners who find traditional education overwhelming.
As a small specialist provision, each young person receives tailored support matched through risk assessment, with low-ratio input and consistent, relational adults. Programmes are carefully designed around each learner’s strengths, needs, and future pathways, with clear outcomes and evidence of progress captured over time.
What Makes Us Different?
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Low-ratio, specialist support (matched through risk assessment) Support is commissioned at the level required for safe access and meaningful progress. This may include standard small-group support, enhanced small-group support, or 1:1 where risk assessment indicates it is required. We prioritise consistent, relational adults across the day.
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Individualised pathways with clear outcomes Every learner follows a personalised programme shaped around needs, strengths, interests and Preparation for Adulthood outcomes, with flexibility to respond to regulation, engagement and progress.
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A safe, regulated environment Calm routines, predictable structure and a trauma-informed, regulation-first approach help young people feel secure, build trust and gradually re-engage with learning.
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Rooted in nature (with campus-based options) Nature-based learning is a core part of Wild Minds. Our farm setting and outdoor opportunities provide space, movement and meaningful hands-on learning that supports regulation, responsibility and wellbeing. (Access to farm-based enrichment is planned and risk-assessed.)
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A multidisciplinary team Young people are supported by a skilled multidisciplinary team including qualified teachers, functional skills input where appropriate, therapeutic and behaviour-informed practitioners, mentors, and practical/vocational coaches.
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Led by lived experience As a neurodivergent-led team, we combine professional expertise with genuine empathy, insight and understanding of the challenges many of our learners face.
Our Programmes
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We combine therapeutic engagement and regulation support with vocational learning, functional skills where appropriate, personal development and emotional wellbeing through structured pathways designed to support progression into further education, training or employment.
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Learners work towards nationally recognised accreditations and a meaningful portfolio of achievement, capturing both academic progress and wider personal development over time.
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Accreditation options may include:
Maths and English Functional Skills (where appropriate)
Vocational Courses including Animal Care, Construction, Health and Social Care, Hospitality, Hair and Beauty, Employability, Land Based Skills and more.
AQA Unit Awards
ASDAN Life Skills Challenges and Short Courses
NOCN Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development (SET-PD)
Skills Builder
Animal Care
Hands-on learning with our rescue animals, including horses, goats, reptiles, and birds of prey. Learners develop responsibility, empathy, confidence, and practical animal management skills, while building routines and emotional regulation through meaningful care-based activities.
Construction & Land-Based Skills
Practical projects in carpentry, site maintenance, conservation, and land-based tasks. Learners develop teamwork, problem-solving, resilience, and transferable vocational skills, contributing to real improvements across the site and building a sense of purpose and achievement.
Health & Social Care
A practical, values-led pathway exploring wellbeing, relationships, communication, boundaries, and the skills needed to support others safely and appropriately. Young people build confidence in everyday life skills and professional behaviours, with learning linked to Preparation for Adulthood outcomes such as independence, community inclusion and health.
Where appropriate, work can be evidenced through portfolio tasks and accredited units to capture progress over time.
Hospitality
A hands-on pathway focused on routines, teamwork and real-world employability skills. Young people develop practical skills such as food preparation, hygiene and safety, customer interaction, and working to a clear process building confidence, responsibility and work readiness.
Where appropriate, learning can be evidenced through portfolio work and accredited units.
Hair and Beauty
A practical pathway that supports confidence, self-care, communication and professional routines. Young people develop skills such as hygiene, presentation, following instructions, and working safely with equipment and products, alongside employability behaviours such as punctuality, teamwork and customer awareness.
Where appropriate, learning can be evidenced through portfolio work and accredited units.
Social & Emotional Learning
Personal development is embedded throughout the day and supported through structured mentoring, reflection, and experiential learning. Learners develop emotional regulation, communication skills, self-awareness, and confidence to support future education, training, employment, and independent living.
Who We Support
We support young people with a wide range of additional needs, including:
• Autism Spectrum Conditions
• ADHD
• SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs)
• SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
Many of the young people we support have experienced school refusal, repeated placement breakdowns, or difficulty accessing traditional education settings.
Non-School Alternative Provision Context
Wild Minds operates as a non-school Alternative Provision (AP) for learners aged 11–25.
Placements are part-time, typically up to 15 hours per week, and are commissioned by schools or local authorities.
Wild Minds does not provide full-time education and is therefore not registered with the Department for Education. Responsibility for statutory education, registration, attendance, and EHCP duties remains with the commissioning school or local authority.
This model allows us to focus on specialist, low-ratio provision for learners with complex needs alongside other agreed educational arrangements or as a Post 16 Provision.
One Wild Minds – Two Pathways
Wild Minds delivers support through two connected pathways, sharing the same ethos and values:
Wild Minds Alternative Provision
Specialist alternative provision for young people aged 11–25, commissioned by schools and local authorities for learners with an EHCP or under Section 19 arrangements.
Wild Minds Therapy and Coaching
A separate service offering therapy, mentoring, and wellbeing supportfor young people, families, and adults.
Not currently eligible for referral to Wild Minds Alternative Provision? Support may still be available through Wild Minds Pro.
Not currently eligible for referral? You can still access support through Wild Minds Pro.
Take the Next Step
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CONTACT US
Model Farm, Blind Lane, Flackwell Heath, Buckinghamshire. HP10 9LE
07403015891
