Alternative Provision in Berkshire
for secondary age learners

the NEST

Nurturing Empathy & Self-esteem Together

—You’re already enough


What to expect

Purple Pigeon

What will they do at the NEST?

They will get to decide what they do each day as long as they learn something from 5 different ares:

Life skills

How to be an independent adult when the time comes including:

Community skills

How to find and build safe, productive communities including:

Self-care skills

How to support their own health, including:

Creative skills

How to express themselves through creative activities including:

Learning skills

How to learn, be informed and be critical about anything they want to know about, inlcuding:

What they do will depend on what they are interested in and what skills they need and want to develop.

At lunch they will either be part of the team making lunch or cleaning up after lunch. Please contact us if they have a food allergy or intolerance, sensory issues around food or eating issues.

At the end of the day they will look at what they have acomplished in the day and have a chat about how the day went for everyone.

Please see timetable for information on timings.

What can they wear to the NEST?

Anything they are comfortable in but we cannot guarantee that it will not get dirty or wet between art activities and outside play. In cold weather, please send them with a coat and a hat/scarf/gloves as they will wear. In hot weather please send a cap or other sunhat.

Who is at the NEST?

There are two full time staff: Aoife and Joy. Then we have staff and volunteers and up to 7 other learners.

What should they take to the NEST?

Only things that you and they are prepared to get damaged/stained/broken. If there are fidgets or support items they find helpful, feel free to bring them. You will be asked from time to time to collect specific things for them to bring in for craft projects (kitchen rolls, empty jars, egg boxes). You never have to and if it is not easy for you to collect the item, there will be spares for all learners. Please make sure they only bring in chargers that are in good order and safe.

This is a partial page - we're collecting our twigs and building the NEST - check back soon for updates including:

Communication, calmness and confidence have improved considerably.

—Caregiver of previous learner (U16 long term out of school)