Finding the Right Fit Starts Here.
We know finding the right provision for your child or your learner can feel overwhelming. This page walks you through everything you need to know, from whether we're the right fit to how to take the next step.
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Who We're Best For
The young people who thrive at Shropshire Adventures Academy are those who've found mainstream education difficult or impossible. They may have been out of education for months or years. They may have tried multiple provisions that haven't worked. They may be anxious, withdrawn or struggling to engage with the world around them.
What they have in common is this: they need somewhere fundamentally different. Somewhere that doesn't look or feel like school. Somewhere small, safe and genuinely built around them.
- Have social, emotional and mental health difficulties
- Have experienced childhood trauma, serious bullying, neglect or family breakdown
- Struggle with anxiety, school refusal or emotional dysregulation
- Have been out of education for one year or more
- Have tried mainstream settings or other provisions that haven't worked
- Would benefit from an outdoor and equine environment
- Are ready for something different, even if only in a small way
What Learners Need to Join Us
Information for Parents or Carers
Information for Local Authorities
How Admissions Works
Contact us by email or phone. Tell us a little about the young person and what's brought you to us. There's no set format and no wrong way to start.
Dan will respond within 24 hours to acknowledge your enquiry. We'll arrange a phone call to find out a little more, answer any questions and give you an honest view on whether we think we can help.
We'll ask to see the learner's EHCP and any relevant background information. We use this to understand context, not to make judgements. Past failures and difficult histories are not a barrier.
If things feel like a good fit, we'll invite the young person and their parent or carer for an informal visit to the site. This is relaxed and pressure-free. There's no formal interview or assessment. Learners can walk around, meet the team and spend time with the horses if they'd like to.
If we're confident we can support the learner, we'll confirm this and begin the formal consultation with the local authority. If we don't think we're the right fit, we'll be honest about that and do our best to point you in a helpful direction.
Once everything is in place, we'll agree a start date and begin the onboarding process. The first term is all about settling in, getting comfortable and building relationships. There's no pressure to engage in formal learning straight away. We take it at the learner's pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
The academy is funded through local authority EHCP budgets, so an EHCP is a firm requirement for a funded place. However, if your child doesn't yet have one, please still get in touch. We can help point you in the right direction and explain how to start the EHCP application process.
Not at all. We hear this from almost every family who contacts us. The environment here is so different from mainstream settings and other provisions that previous placements are rarely a reliable guide to what happens at the academy. We assess every young person on their own terms.
No. Most of our learners have never been near a horse before they arrive. We teach everything from absolute beginner level and adapt every activity to wherever your child is starting from.
Refusal is always met with patience, never pressure. We'll take the time to understand what's making your child anxious and work gently to build their confidence. Many learners who refused certain activities in their first weeks go on to be the most enthusiastic members of the group.
Most learners stay for around two years, though this varies depending on individual need and progress. Some learners complete their goals in a year. Others, particularly those with significant educational gaps, may stay for up to three years with local authority agreement.
Learners attend five days a week, from 9.30am to 3pm, term time only. Every timetable is completely individualised, but a typical week will include equine work, outdoor education, functional skills, preparing for adulthood sessions and personal development activities.
The academy is funded through local authority EHCP budgets. In most cases, families do not pay directly. The cost differs per learner per year and is agreed between the academy and the local authority as part of the consultation process.
Transport is funded by your local authority as part of the EHCP process. We can help guide you through how to apply for transport funding and what to do if a request is refused.
We specialise in post-16 provision for young people aged 16 to 25 with social, emotional and mental health difficulties, particularly those who've experienced childhood trauma. We are not a generalist SEND provider. Our model is built entirely around trauma-informed education delivered through outdoor and equine learning.
We work with a maximum of 8 to 10 learners at any one time. This is a deliberate decision that allows us to provide genuinely bespoke programmes and build the deep relationships that make real progress possible.
Learners can work towards a range of nationally recognised qualifications including BHS Changing Lives Through Horses, BHS Stage 1 and 2, functional skills in maths and English from Entry Level to Level 2, BHS Personal Development qualifications, Emergency First Aid in the Outdoors, Water Rescue Awareness and Navigation Awards. All qualifications are assessed through observation and portfolio evidence rather than formal examinations.
Every learner's programme is individually designed around their EHCP outcomes. We provide regular, proactive progress updates throughout the year and do not wait for annual reviews to raise concerns or share achievements. We take EHCP target work seriously and document evidence of progress continuously.
We have zero dropouts and zero placement breakdowns. Once a learner is placed with us, they stay. Our attendance rate is excellent and we proactively manage any issues before they escalate.
This depends on local authority approval timelines and transport arrangements. We will always be upfront about our current availability and work with you to move as quickly as possible. If a place is not immediately available, we will keep you informed and maintain contact throughout the wait.
We are currently listed with Worcestershire, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Herefordshire and Dudley councils. If you are a caseworker from one of these areas, please get in touch directly and we will be happy to provide any additional information or documentation you need.
Yes, and we actively encourage it. Seeing the academy in person is the best way to understand what we offer and feel confident recommending us to families. Get in touch and we'll arrange a visit at a time that works for you.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Real progress. Real people. Foundations made to last.
A closer look at the journeys our learners have been on.
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See what others have experienced.
What families and professionals say about Shropshire Adventures Academy.