Our Approach

Outside the box is based on a holistic approach to education and SEN support for children of all ages as well as their families. We offer a range of services including: tutoring in core subjects, mentoring programmes, SEN and SEMH consultancy as well as a multitude of wellbeing activities and coaching programmes. These are specifically tailored to each child's needs and interest, and could be linked to outdoor education, adventure sport or other hobbies and activities.

 

We believe that every child needs to find their own way, and that traditional mainstream models definitely do not work for a lot of children. We specialise in harnessing every child's specific interests and talents for positive engagement.

We base our programmes for children on the principle that mental health and physical health are intertwined. If we can work on both at the same time, we know the impacts are significant... and we know children will then become more open to learning. 

We believe in the power of a positive habit, that in turn contributes to increased feelings of wellbeing and ability to engage both socially and emotionally as well as learn other new skills. We want to help all children we work with to learn new skills and hobbies to help them go on to lead meaningful lives. 

 

Examples in the past include:

  • Using mountain biking and dirt jump bikes to support ADHD children with managing risk and impulsive tendencies.
  • Using art and photography in nature to support high anxiety students to engage in the world beyond their own home.
  • Using resistance training or body boarding to support young people with low sensory stimulation to increase their focus and energy.
  • Using cold water immersion to support a young person managing symptoms of depression.

 

Through these acquired passions and skills children learn to manage their own moods, but also then become susceptible to learning other new skills and more open to academic learning experiences. We can also work on therapeutic programmes from qualified occupational therapists we can partner with to support motor coordination, sensory needs and  trauma and attachment approaches through meaningful activities. We can also use these to support for a short term transition period between more formal educational settings, focussing on mood regulation, anxiety control or self regulation.

Enrichment activities:

With a range of outdoor skills and qualifications, as well as a thorough knowledge of Cornwall and it’s environment, both built and natural, our staff can offer a wide range of opportunities and activity in a safe and appropriate environment such as:

 

  • Cooking, both indoors and outside using bushcraft
  • Art and crafts, both indoors but also outside using local environments and inspiration
  • digital creative media and photography
  • swimming, surfing/bodyboarding or paddleboarding or general water confidence
  • mountain biking, BMXing and cycling
  • opportunities for careers exposure through trade skills
  • Environmental education, horticulture and conservation

 

If it’s out there we will help our children find their passion and develop wholesome lives through these...

 

Tutoring:

We can deliver sessions face to face, blended or online from for students of all ages with qualified teachers. This can be in core subjects such as Maths and English, as well as more specific interests and outcomes. We can also use outdoor learning and active learning to embed key concepts and life-skills, or to focus on specific passions and interest, from mainstream subjects like history and science, to wider and more niche special interests such as transport or vehicle engineering.

 

Transition or Placement breakdown:

We understand first hand the difficulties many children experience attending school placements, and the educational trauma this can bring when these end. We can support with short term packages with a wellbeing or emotional regulation focus, to ensure readiness for the next phase of education or new placement, or as part of an adapted or part time timetable to smooth out the path ahead.

 

Wellbeing and therapeutic packages:

We can combine any of the above activities into a bespoke day and can enrich the offer with the addition of therapeutic and Cognitive behavioural, as well as wellbeing activities. We can focus this around anxiety, anger management, obsessive compulsions and depression.

 

We understand that no two children are the same, and everyone has a different need, both educationally and socially. We therefore offer a range of bespoke packages and activities to meet these. Whether it is a developing physical health, social and emotional wellbeing and self esteem or academic support, we are confident we can help secure the best outcomes for every young person we work with. We also recognize the classroom isn't the best place to learn for many children.

We can offer a number of services, based on the requirement, or put together something more bespoke drawing from a wider range of skills...