Think Differently Education is an outdoor alternative educational provision designed to support some of the most vulnerable students in the North East.
We work with neurodivergent young people between the ages of 8 and 14 who experience anxiety and struggle to attend school. Helping them to feel safe and understood so that they can begin to re-engage in their education and the wider world.
Our unique programme is designed and run by skilled teachers with professional, personal and parenting experience of neurodivergence and the complex issues associated with this. Initially, focusing on creating relationships with our students, we build their ability to trust in us, our provision and themselves. With this foundation in place, we are able to use our expertise to guide them through their learning journey.
Ensuring our students feel a deep sense of safety is central to everything we do. Without this, students struggle to fully engage and thrive.
We work hard to build their ability to trust in us and our environment.
Understanding and truly accepting the strengths and differences that are an intrinsic part of growing up neurodivergent.
We instil confidence and pride in our students for being exactly who they are.
Knowing that past experiences have a profound impact on a student's sensory system and the way they respond to the world around them, we prioritise connection before correction and reducing shame responses.
Neurodivergent students have interest-based nervous systems.
We use tailored support to help young people identify areas of interest, allow them the freedom to fully explore these, facilitating deep learning and sparking new interests along the way.
Our experienced teachers work closely with individual students to offer a wide range of learning opportunities.
Offering gentle, constructive feedback, teachers are able to challenge students to deepen and broaden their learning.
Focusing on individuals' strengths and challenges allows us to identify what they need to thrive.
For some, this is focusing on student-led learning and the WILD Passport bushcraft skills, while others are better suited to more structured learning and qualifications.