Alternative Education Provision at InvisAble InkEd
Alternative Education Provision at InvisAble InkEd
What is our Alternative Education Provision offer?
We provide alternative education support for children and young people aged 5-19 in and around South Devon. Although we can support individuals with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities, we specialise in supporting individuals with an autonomy-driven (PDA) profile, Autism, ADHD, and school-based trauma. We are also able to support learners with complex communication differences, including non/pre-verbal learners, those with situational mutism, gestalt language processors, and those with hearing differences. We are trained in the use of Makaton, British Sign Language, and the use of both high- and low-tech AAC.
At InvisAble InkEd, we believe that education should fit the child—not the other way around. Our alternative provision exists for children and young people who need something different: something safer, more flexible, more creative, and more human.
We deliver bespoke, interest-led alternative education for learners across Devon who may find traditional school environments overwhelming, inaccessible, or unsuitable. Every young person we work with is met with curiosity, respect, and care. We take time to understand who they are, what lights them up, and what they need in order to feel safe enough to learn.
There is no “off-the-shelf” offer here. We design a brand-new curriculum for every learner, deep-diving into their unique interests and needs—whether that’s gaming and game design, VR, 3D printing, art and music, storytelling, hands-on making, or something entirely different. Learning can take place in The Pillow Fort, at home, out in the community, or at external events—wherever the learner feels most able to engage.
Our provision is child-centred, trauma-informed, and neurodiversity-affirming, combining tutoring and learning mentor support to build confidence, curiosity, communication, and connection. Above all, we aim to create a space where children and young people feel seen, heard, and valued—often for the first time in their educational journey.
InvisAble InkEd is proud to be part of a growing movement that is striving for equity, challenging outdated systems, and making real waves in education.
If you’re looking for an alternative provision that leads with empathy, creativity, and integrity—you’re in the right place.
Keep scrolling for more info!
Alternative Provision Options
1:1 Interest-Led Learning Packages
Our 1:1 (or 2:1 where required) interest-led learning sessions are designed for children and young people who have experienced significant school-based trauma and who need learning to feel safe, flexible, and led by trust rather than expectation. We meet learners exactly where they are, prioritising emotional safety, regulation, and positive relationships before any academic or skill-based goals.
Sessions are carefully personalised around each learner’s individual needs, strengths, and interests. Young people are supported to explore learning through activities that genuinely engage them, such as 3D printing, gaming, arts and crafts, and baking, alongside other practical, creative, and curiosity-led projects. These interests provide meaningful opportunities to develop communication, problem-solving, emotional regulation, independence, and confidence in ways that feel natural and achievable.
Sessions are primarily based at our learning base in Teignmouth, The Pillow Fort, a calm, self-contained learning environment designed to feel safe, predictable, and welcoming. Learning is not confined to the classroom. We are just a short walk from the town centre, the seafront, and the train station, and we also have access to a vehicle. This allows learning to move fluidly between the base and the wider community, supporting real-world experiences, life skills, and small adventures as and when learners are ready.
Each learner is supported by a consistent, trusted adult who provides structure, reassurance, and flexibility. Progress is entirely individual and led by the learner, allowing them to build confidence and capacity at their own pace. Where required, 2:1 support is offered to ensure learners with higher or more complex needs feel safe, supported, and able to engage meaningfully.
Our focus is not on returning learners to school as a standard outcome, but on rebuilding a sense of safety, trust, and self-belief following experiences of school trauma. We support young people to develop the emotional resilience, practical skills, and agency they need to engage with learning and life in ways that feel safe and empowering.
For some learners, and only where it is appropriate, wanted, and carefully planned, support may include working towards a gradual reintegration into education. This is always approached collaboratively, at the learner’s pace, and with emotional wellbeing as the priority at every stage.
1:1 Learning Mentor Packages
Our 1:1 Learning Mentor packages provide flexible, trauma-informed support for children and young people who need consistent relational input alongside interest-led activities. These sessions are commissioned as mentoring and wellbeing support rather than formal education provision.
The focus of Learning Mentor sessions is on emotional safety, regulation, confidence, and trust-building. While learning and skill development may naturally occur through interests and shared activities, sessions are not structured or reported as teacher-led education. This makes the provision particularly suitable for learners who are not yet ready for education in a formal sense, or where an alternative support pathway is required.
Sessions are highly responsive and shaped around the learner’s emotional state, capacity, and interests on the day. Support may include co-regulation, routine-building, community access, creative or practical activities, and supported exploration of interests, all delivered at a pace that feels safe and achievable.
Learning Mentor sessions may be delivered by a qualified teacher or by an experienced practitioner, depending on the needs of the learner and the commissioning arrangement. All staff work within the same trauma-informed framework, ensuring consistency, safety, and quality of support regardless of role.
Where appropriate, Learning Mentor support may sit alongside education provision or, over time, support a learner to move towards a different form of engagement, always led by the learner and prioritising wellbeing.
For some learners, and only where it is appropriate, wanted, and carefully planned, support may include working towards a gradual reintegration into education. This is always approached collaboratively, at the learner’s pace, and with emotional wellbeing as the priority at every stage.
Sessions can be based at The Pillow Fort, at the learner’s home, or out in the community. Please note that there may be an additional mileage charge for home and community-based sessions.
1:1 Peer Group Packages
Our Group AP is designed for learners who benefit from a gentler, more supported transition into a peer group environment. We begin by working on a 1:1 or 1:2 basis, allowing learners to build trust, confidence, and familiarity with staff before gradually introducing peer interaction.
Progression into a group setting is carefully paced and entirely learner-led, ensuring each young person feels ready and supported at every stage. Peer groups are formed thoughtfully, with close consideration given to individual needs, interests, communication styles, and emotional regulation. This careful matching helps create a calm, predictable, and nurturing environment where learners feel safe, secure, and understood.
Throughout sessions, staff provide consistent guidance and support, helping learners develop social confidence, cooperation skills, and positive peer relationships at a pace that feels achievable and empowering. Our approach prioritises emotional wellbeing alongside engagement, enabling learners to thrive both individually and within a small peer group.
Sessions are primarily based at our learning base in Teignmouth, The Pillow Fort, a calm, self-contained learning environment designed to feel safe, predictable, and welcoming. Learning is not confined to the classroom. We are just a short walk from the town centre, the seafront, and the train station, and we also have access to a vehicle. This allows learning to move fluidly between the base and the wider community, supporting real-world experiences, life skills, and small adventures as and when learners are ready.
For some learners, and only where it is appropriate, wanted, and carefully planned, support may include working towards a gradual reintegration into education. This is always approached collaboratively, at the learner’s pace, and with emotional wellbeing as the priority at every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Through our alternative education provision packages, we support learners aged 5-19 across South Devon and surrounding areas who benefit from personalised, flexible, creative approaches to education—specialising in supporting learners with PDA, Autism, ADHD, anxiety, school-based trauma, and learners needing a bespoke educational offer.
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We currently offer:
1:1 / 2:1 tutoring and learning mentor sessions
Pairs and peer group sessions
Our team includes:
A Makaton-trained practitioner
A BSL-trained practitioner
Staff with SEND specialisms
Professionals experienced in supporting neurodivergent learners and those with complex needs
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Our Alternative Education Provision during school hours is £60 per hour (£180 per half-day session). Group sessions are charged at £30 per learner for pairs, or £25 per hour for groups of 30 or more learners.
For self-funding individuals, we offer an interest-led tutoring and mentoring package outside of school hours at £40 per hour.
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We can learn in a variety of environments, including:
The Pillow Fort – our dedicated, safe, and nurturing learning space
At home – for learners who feel more secure in familiar surroundings
Out in the community – parks, museums, shops, nature spaces, cafés
External events and opportunities – when relevant to a learner’s interests or goals
Flexibility is key—we meet learners where they feel safest, most regulated, and most able to engage.
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Our provision is completely interest-led, meaning every learner experiences something different—and designed just for them. We write a unique, bespoke curriculum for every young person, built around their interests, strengths, needs, and preferred ways of learning.
Sessions may include a wide range of creative and interactive approaches such as:
VR experiences and immersive learning
3D printing and digital design projects
Gaming, game design, and interactive storytelling
Art, craft, and creative design
Music, movement, and sensory exploration
Hands-on projects, experiments, and curiosity-led activities
…and so much more, depending entirely on what engages each learner.
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We focus on real progress—the kind that changes lives.
This may include:improved confidence
better emotional regulation
increased communication
renewed curiosity
stronger social or practical skills
greater engagement with learning
Progress is documented through narrative assessments, observations, and regular feedback. We keep referrers and families updated with clear, thoughtful reports.
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Referrals can be submitted by parents, carers, or professionals involved with supporting the individual.
You can complete this form, or you can email us at alternativeprovision@invisableinked.education for more information.