HELPING
WILD MINDS
THRIVE
Specialist Therapeutic Alternative Provision
Supporting young people aged 14 and above who may find it a challenge to access or sustain mainstream education or college.
Regulation first. Safety. Connection. Then learning.
Who We Are
Wild Minds delivers therapeutic alternative provision through a blended, multi-site model for young people aged 14 and above.
Placements are commissioned by local authorities and schools and can sit alongside education, as part of an alternative provision placement, or within an EOTAS package.
We offer rolling starts throughout the year.
Our Approach
At Wild Minds, we understand that behaviour is communication and that engagement comes after regulation.
We provide calm, consistent environments where young people feel safe, known and supported. From this foundation, we build confidence, routine, and readiness for learning.
Relationships come first. Progress follows.
Our Model Includes
- Therapeutic support and relational practice
- Practical, hands-on learning
- Personal development and life skills
- Literacy and numeracy embedded into real contexts
- Clear structure and predictable routines
Life at Wild Minds
Hands-on learning, animal care, practical skills, and a community built on connection.
Our Sites
We deliver across multiple environments to meet different needs and stages of readiness.
The Farm
A practical, outdoor setting focused on animal care, land-based skills, construction and vocational learning. A highly regulating environment where learners build responsibility, confidence and engagement through hands-on activity.
Acorn House
A calm, indoor therapeutic hub supporting personal development, functional skills, small group work and structured learning in a low-arousal environment.
Cookham Lodge
A classroom-based setting supporting re-engagement with education, functional skills, and preparation for next steps, including college and employment pathways.
Learners may move between sites as their confidence and readiness develops.
Our Therapeutic Approach
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Animals are at the heart of what we do. Working alongside our ponies, horses, sheep, goats, ferrets, owl, and other rescue animals gives learners a reason to engage, a way to regulate, and a relationship that asks nothing of them except presence.
Animal-assisted therapy supports emotional regulation, confidence-building, responsibility, and connection. For many of our learners, the animals are the reason they walk through the gate each morning.
Sessions are structured and therapeutic, led by trained practitioners who understand trauma, neurodivergence, and the power of non-verbal connection.
Beyond the Classroom
Community Mentoring
Not every young person is ready for a site-based placement. For some, the first step is building trust, confidence, and routine in a familiar environment.
Our community mentoring service brings consistent, therapeutic support to the young person — whether that is at home, in a local café, a park, or another community setting. Sessions are led by trained practitioners and focus on regulation, engagement, and building the foundations for next steps.
Community mentoring can be delivered as a standalone service or as an add-on to any alternative provision placement, supporting learners during evenings, weekends, or school holidays.
Regulation & Routine
Building predictable, safe interactions that support emotional regulation and daily structure.
Confidence & Connection
Developing trust through consistent relationships and meaningful activities in the community.
Transition Support
Bridging the gap between home and provision, preparing learners for site-based sessions or college.
Community mentoring is available for young people aged 10 and above and can be commissioned by local authorities, schools, or accessed privately by families.
Enquire About MentoringProgrammes and Pathways
We offer personalised pathways built around preparation for adulthood.
All learners also access:
Personal development
Literacy and numeracy
Employability skills
Portfolio-based accreditation (AQA, ASDAN, NOCN where appropriate)
Placements and Structure
Placements are tiered based on readiness and attendance tolerance.
Tier 1
1 Day
per week
Tier 2
2 Days
per week
Tier 3
3 Days
per week
Our standard day runs from 09:40 to 14:30, term time.
Each day includes a balance of practical sessions, theory, personal development, and literacy and numeracy, with built-in time for regulation and reset.
Who We Support
Wild Minds supports young people aged 14 to 25 with:
- SEND and EHCPs
- SEMH needs
- Anxiety and school avoidance
- Trauma and adverse experiences
- Placement breakdown
- Reduced timetables or EOTAS
We also offer community-based mentoring for young people who are not yet ready to attend a site-based provision.
Community and Connection
Family is at the heart of everything we do. That includes the family who run the farm, our staff team, our learners, our animals, and the wider community around us.
Connection runs through everything. When young people feel they belong, they begin to engage, and from there, they begin to grow.
Why Wild Minds?
- Calm, structured environments
- High staff ratios and consistent teams
- Multi-site flexibility
- Therapeutic, trauma-informed approach
- Strong focus on preparation for adulthood
- Rolling starts with no need to wait for September
We focus on
what is possible.
Stay Connected
Follow Us
Keep up with life at Wild Minds — animal updates, learner achievements, and behind-the-scenes moments.
Wild Mind Well-Being
on Facebook
Find Us On
Follow us for daily updates, animal stories, learner achievements, and a window into life at Wild Minds.
#HelpingWildMindsThrive
Let's talk
If you are a parent, school or professional looking for a supportive, structured alternative provision, we are happy to talk through suitability and next steps.
Get in Touch
Send us a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.