Our Team & Approach
Outside the Box is led by a core team of highly experienced SEN leaders and specialist support staff, with a strong track record of successfully supporting children and young people with a wide range of additional needs. Our outreach, mentoring and education programmes are delivered by skilled practitioners who excel at building meaningful, trusting relationships with young people across a broad spectrum of neurodivergence.
We strongly believe in the therapeutic benefits of outdoor activity, physical fitness and positive hobbies. These principles underpin our wellbeing offer, which includes a range of carefully designed activities to support emotional regulation, confidence and mental wellbeing. We have extensive experience working with children and young people with ADHD, PDA, ASC, dyslexia, as well as a wide range of SEMH and sensory needs.
Over the past decade, our team has developed and delivered a variety of social, emotional and mental health support packages. This has given us a deep and practical understanding of the diverse needs of children and young people, whether formally diagnosed or not. We have also contributed to the therapeutic and psychological provision within local outstanding special schools, strengthening our understanding of best practice across all aspects of SEN.
As part of Outside the Box, we regularly draw on specialist training and consultation from Speech and Language Therapy, Educational Psychology and Occupational Therapy professionals. This ensures our work remains informed by current evidence and delivered to the highest standard, supported by some of the most experienced practitioners in Cornwall. We are also able to support with referrals to these services where appropriate.
If you feel our approach may be of interest, please get in touch — we would be happy to discuss how we can support you.
Our full-time core team...
Luke Bolsin – Founder
Luke Bolsin, founder of Outside the Box, has over 20 years’ experience in education. He began his career as a secondary school teacher and has spent the past 11 years as a SENDCo and senior leader within special education. Luke has also worked as an advisor with the County Autism Team.
His professional background is underpinned by a deep passion for enriching outdoor experiences. Through activities such as surfing, surf lifesaving and mountain biking, Luke integrates outdoor learning into provision for young people, supporting personal growth, resilience and wellbeing.
Luke is a Trauma-Informed Schools practitioner and holds a range of therapeutic qualifications, including CBT and DDP practitioner certifications. In addition, he is a qualified surf lifeguard and SLSGB trainer, as well as a SUP, power kite and mountain bike instructor. Luke strongly believes in the proven scientific benefits of outdoor activity and its vital role in supporting mental wellbeing for all.
Jo Goldring – Core Support Team Lead
Jo Goldring oversees our core support team. She began her career as a teaching assistant, providing one-to-one support for children, before moving into roles within residential care homes. More recently, Jo has held a leadership position within a busy SEMH setting.
Jo brings a wide range of skills and experience, with a background in visual art using mixed media, alongside counselling qualifications. She is passionate about the outdoors and physical exercise, and has a strong belief in the intrinsic connection between physical and mental wellbeing.
Outside of work, Jo is a busy mum to two teenagers. She enjoys spending time in the sea — body surfing, swimming and surfing — as well as developing her own 3D art projects. Jo also holds surf safety awards and is a dedicated gym enthusiast.
Andy Boxall – Education & Outreach Lead
Andy Boxall leads on elements of our education and outreach work. A primary-trained teacher, Andy previously held the role of PSHE Lead in an SEMH school and has extensive experience working with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. He has also worked within adult mental health services as a social inclusion worker.
Andy is a serving beach lifeguard with the RNLI in the summer and an SLSGB trainer. In addition, he is a surf and mountain bike instructor, a qualified personal trainer, level 1 football coach, and a committed advocate for wellbeing through physical activity and time spent outdoors.
Our extended team...
Our work is strengthened by an exceptional extended team who share our passion for building positive, trusting relationships and consistently going the extra mile to think Outside the Box for the children and young people we support. Every member of our team recognises that traditional, classroom-based education does not work for everyone, and we are deeply committed to creating opportunities for all children to thrive and flourish.
Our staff are highly trained and experienced, bringing a shared belief that every young person has the potential to succeed when supported in the right way.
Zoe Waitz – Outdoor Education & SEMH Specialist
Zoe Waitz previously worked as an Assistant Headteacher within a busy SEMH setting and is also a qualified Forest School Leader, experienced outdoor educator and PE teacher. She supports Outside the Box on a part-time basis while also establishing her own specialist school in West Cornwall, Meadow Pathways Cornwall. (https://meadowpathwayscornwall.com/)
Zoe’s knowledge of foraging and woodland-based activities is exceptional. She brings a relentlessly positive outlook and enjoys a wide range of outdoor pursuits, including animal husbandry, kayaking, mountain biking and woodland and bushcrafts.
Michele Haigh – Specialist Support worker & Wellbeing mentor
Michele Haigh brings over 20 years of experience working with young people and families across a range of settings, including youth offending teams, drug and alcohol services, and schools. For the past seven years, she has specialised as a Family Support Worker and Safeguarding Lead within a specialist education setting.
Michele holds several counselling qualifications, including a diploma in Person-Centred Counselling, and is also a Senior Mental Health Lead. She is deeply committed to creating meaningful, lasting change for young people and their families. Outside of work, Michele loves staying active and is a formidable competitor when it comes to racquet sports — particularly tennis, as well as being a passionate basketball Mum!
Noah Capps – Specialist Support worker & Wellbeing Mentor
Noah Capps is a highly dedicated and experienced SEMH teaching assistant with a strong commitment to wellbeing through movement and exercise. He has competed internationally as a surfer for Surfing GB , fitness instructor, and co-owner of Move-Raw Cornwall Personal Training classes, he is also a working towards his boxing coach award with 'Wellbeing Boxing' (https://www.wellbeingboxing.com/).
A fluent French speaker, Noah is an exceptionally positive and inspiring mentor for children and young people with a wide range of needs. When not working, he can often be found in the waters of Cornwall, Devon, or further afield as his adventures take him.
Mike Deacy – Strategic SEN Advisor
We are also delighted to be supported by Mike Deacy, who brings extensive SEN leadership experience at both school and regional level. Mike has established two outstanding SEMH schools locally, serving as Headteacher and Executive Headteacher, and now runs his own SEN and school improvement consultancy, SEND Excellence. (https://www.sendexcellence.co.uk/)
Mike provides strategic guidance and mentoring to Outside the Box staff and young people through his consultancy work. An outstanding science teacher and keen footballer, Mike’s true passion lies in live music. He has an extraordinary ability to create music from almost any household item and loves sharing this creativity with the children we support.
Our Wellbeing Dogs
We are proud to introduce our wellbeing dogs, Rambo, Boss and Oggy, who play a valued role in supporting the children and young people we work with. Both dogs are experienced in working within educational settings and have spent many hours in schools supporting children with SEMH needs. They bring calm, comfort and connection — often without needing to do very much at all.
Rambo may be approaching retirement age, but he has over 10 years’ experience working in a special school in a wellbeing role. Boss is a younger guy with more spring in his step, who's recently become a qualified therapy dog.. Both have a calm, gentle nature and particularly enjoys being read to — as well as any tasty treats that might come their way. Rambo and Boss have a reassuring presence and are a firm favourite with both children and adults alike. Oggy our much younger team member, is all about cuddles, movement and outdoor fun. She loves walks, play and exploring the world, and is currently learning from the boys how to slow down, relax and embrace a more chilled pace when needed.
Our dogs add an extra layer of warmth, regulation and emotional support to our work.
