We are proud to offer a unique alternative provision in a beautiful woodland location in Buckinghamshire for children aged 7 to 14 with Special Educational Needs who find accessing a school environment challenging.

At PBA, young people are given the opportunity to develop their social skills, confidence, and self-esteem. Our setting contributes to improved physical and mental health and overall well-being, naturally providing a therapeutic environment. Our young people are encouraged to develop their interests and gain a sense of purpose and belonging in a self-directed, low-demand, nurturing and fun environment. Learning is nature-inspired, experiential, and informal and occurs organically within our flexible and bespoke programme.

Our programme

What we offer and how it supports the young people’s needs:

Bushcraft skills:

Whittling, den and shelter building, cooking and survival skills:

Supports fine motor skills, concentration, problem-solving, and nutrition. Group bushcraft activities encourage teamwork and collaboration to achieve common goals.

Physical activities:

Ninja assault course, swing, hammock, slack line, tree stump steppingstones, woodland and countryside walks, tree climbing, zip swing:

Built into the day to support sensory, emotional regulation and proprioception needs.

The environment:

Wildlife, streams, nature walks, understanding seasons and conservation:

Being in nature promotes an understanding and appreciation of the environment. It encourages mindfulness, reduces stress, and promotes mental well-being.

Target Sports:

Archery, shooting and axe-throwing:

This is an opportunity to learn and develop skills that support coordination, concentration, turn-taking, teamwork, and following instructions, rules, and safety procedures. Engaging in target sports promotes responsible and safe equipment handling, promoting a sense of safety awareness.

Woodwork:

Small and large projects, individual and or whole camp projects:

Develops practical skills, communication skills, sense of achievement, problem-solving, fine and gross motor skills and creativity. It encourages a love for learning and provides a foundation for various life skills.

At PBA, thorough safety measures and the correct training are crucial in all target sports and bushcraft activities to ensure our young people enjoy the benefits while remaining safe.

Meet the team

Director: Will

Lead Instructor: Brendan

Creative Instructor: Steph

Instructors- Lauren, Sophie and Sarah

Alternative Provision Coordinator: Mandy

Referrals

Referrals can be made to us directly by parents, schools, or the LA.

• Referrals can be made with or without the young person having an EHCP

• Agreed places on a case-by-case basis, and dependant on current cohort and capacity to ensure we can meet their needs

• We have contracts, policies and service-level agreements with Local Authorities, SEN Schools, Parents and Carers.

• We can support young people with the following additional special education needs:

• High functioning Autism (ASD)

• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

• Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

• Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)

• Poor Mental Health and social anxieties

• Anxiety

We deeply value the well-being and individual needs of all young people with SEND. Due to the current structure of our facilities and the expertise of our staff, we are currently unable to accept young people with severe physical disabilities and those exhibiting severely challenging behaviours.

Contact us

Please get in touch with Mandy Edwards, our Alternative Provision Coordinator, for all initial queries and referrals.

mobile: 07474298729

email: [email protected]