The Outdoors School
Offering a new and different approach to learning for young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs (SEMH).
Headteacher's Welcome
We are offering a new and different approach to learning for young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health Needs, (SEMH). We are here because one size does not fit all!
We are determined to offer all our learners the opportunity to grow, thrive and develop into happy adults who will fulfil their potential and lead productive lives through play, exploration and discovery in a sustainable environment and yes, we are almost 100% outdoors!
At The Outdoors School we know that it takes a whole family to raise a child, so we work hard to support the families of our learners and have a dedicated Family and Child Support worker who runs coffee mornings and is planning parent support groups. We take every opportunity to involve families in our school events.
Every day I become more and more proud of what we offer and the personal and academic progress of the learners in our care.
Robyn Vincent, The Outdoors School Headteacher
"Our son loves going to school..."
“I do not know where we would be as a family were it not for this fantastic school and what it has done for our son. Our son loves going to school and comes home happy, smiling and buoyant. He still has a million more miles to go but we feel confident that with the group of amazing people supporting him every step of the way, he will make it!”
How the School works
The Outdoors School is an Ofsted registered Independent Special School. We operate from four forest school sites in Devon and cater for learners who present with ASD and SEMH needs.
The Outdoors School aims to develop free thinking students and believes in developing the whole learner, not just their academic ability. We work on a learner led, forest school, experiential and project based social emotional curriculum, where life skills, coping strategies for behaviour and social situations are at the heart of learning.
All our learners are in small groups with a dedicated Pastoral Tutor, Curriculum Tutor and Learning Support Assistant to maximise their ability to engage and progress. We pride ourselves on the range of life experiences we can offer our learners.
This is in addition to achieving academic outcomes for all key areas of education including, English, Mathematics, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Enterprise, Citizenship, PHSE (Personal Health and Social Education) Physical Education and Humanities.
Our staff are highly qualified and bring a range of skills and knowledge to our school. We pride ourselves on being different and work almost entirely outside with a social emotional based curriculum that learners can access at their own pace.
The curriculum
Our innovative experiential curriculum is designed to meet learners’ social, emotional and mental health needs, develop coping skills and change behaviour. This is in addition to achieving academic outcomes for all key areas of education including, English, Mathematics, STEM, Enterprise, Citizenship, PHSE, Physical Education and Humanities.
A typical day
We work on a learner led, forest school, experiential and project based social emotional curriculum, where life skills, coping strategies for behaviour and social situations are at the heart of the learning. A typical day includes structure learning, games, outdoor play, tool use, mind/body reflection and clubs.
How to apply
The Outdoors School accepts learners into places that are commissioned by the Local Authority. In order to have a place commissioned, it is likely that your child will have gone through a difficult time in mainstream school and will also have an EHC Plan. In Devon we are commissioned by the 0-25 team for places.
Inside Noah
Inside a heart there is a beat of love
Inside an eye there is a sight of life
Inside a brain there is a spark of an idea
Inside a lung there is a breath of oxygen
Learners' work
Explore the extraordinary achievements of The Outdoors School’s brilliant pupils—dive into the inspiring world of our learners’ work and witness the incredible stories they’ve crafted.
