Activities
Theraputic Education
Each young person develops individually and dependent upon their needs the activities will be tailored personally. Learning new skills are often very subliminal which removes the fear of failure and enables each young person to build resilience to re-engage with learning and life. We have several options available to suit the needs of young people.
The School Day involves various activities to encourage working with peers, following instructions, being able to think and work as an individual and taking on small amounts of responsibility. There is no stress involved but everyone is expected to try their best and include themselves with all tasks. We use the emotional age of the individual rather than the physical age and a holistic approach based on THRIVE which provides a safe nurturing environment. An example of this is a young person with adverse childhood experiences, attachment or trauma -based problems, is often unable to recognize their physical and emotional needs such as feeling cold, needing to have a drink or removing themselves from hazards. We use the online THRIVE assessments to assess and monitor progress.
Activities shall be combined with education and tailored to functional skills and a horse/animal care qualification, incorporating the national curriculum of Maths, English and ICT. For those who wish to pursue further qualifications this can be accommodated to the individuals specific skill set or career choice.
Woodcraft & Maintenance
Wildlife & Nature Activities
Our wildlife garden provides a varied habitat for migrating and nesting birds. Birds that visit include kestrels, buzzards, peregrine falcons, a red kite, goldfinches, pied wagtails and goldcrests. We have nest boxes and bug houses throughout the site and our annual nesting swallows reside in our stables.
We raise caterpillars, study bugs and their lifecycles and this gives young people the opportunity to be hands on and understand the importance of various habitats and the environment. Our wildlife pond attracts dragonflies, frogs and newts and provides an important source of drinking water for local birds, insects and mammals.
One To One Approach
In our experience young people who struggle with a full week in mainstream schools with mental health problems who need to build life skills and resilience benefit from one to one teaching and therapeutic sessions. This may include equine assisted therapy, therapeutic arts and crafts or regulation strategies.
Peer Group Learning
These are small group sessions divided into suitable groups for pupils who need to go further back into their reintroduction to education and life skills. Usually they have trauma related problems that have caused regressive behaviour and a chaotic brain needing a more finely tuned therapeutic approach while the child begins to heal.
Our student groups are four to eight. This means that we meet the needs of each individual while they are recovering and rebuilding. School Days are from 9:00 till 2:30.
Students will need to bring with them a packed- lunch and suitable clothes for the weather.