Alternative Education Provision
Our Alternative Education Provision combines direct long-term therapy delivered by a registered, experienced practitioner as well as access to family work designed to reduce inequality around the young person and promote long term positive outcomes. The aim of alternative therapeutic provision is to work holistically with the young person and the structures around them (family, home, school) in order to increase their wellbeing and support them to reengage with education.
Cambridge Acorn Project provides holistic and bespoke therapeutic interventions on a one-to-one basis.
Our therapeutic work is grounded in attachment theory, empathy, and reflective practice. Our model prioritises shared decision making and feedback informed treatment ensuring children and young people are at the heart of their own therapeutic journeys.
This supportive approach gives the child or young person the time needed to build strong positive relationships facilitating long-term change. Our interventions work across multiple domains to improve wellbeing, and support young people to transition back into mainstream or special educational settings.
We work closely with the young person and their environment to reduce disadvantage and inequality, and our support also includes attachment-related activities, ensuring basic needs are met for safe homes and reducing family stress, and promoting social freedom. We provide the right support for the individual, all our therapists, social workers, and counsellors are qualified, registered and highly experienced and we can provide a wide range of support including:
Counselling & psychotherapeutic counselling
Art therapy
Drama therapy
Music therapy
Animal-assisted therapy
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Video Interactive Guidance (VIG)
Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) informed practice
Therapeutic education
Mindfulness and meditation
Therapeutic Education
Our therapeutic education programme is delivered by qualified tutors (QTS and/or subject specialists) and offers inclusive, personalised 1:1 and small group trauma-informed tutoring in a low-stimulation environment.
Our programmes are built around each young person’s interests, prioritising their voice. We meet the young person at their individual starting points, to ensure they feel emotionally safe and use their strengths and interests to facilitate learning working at a pace suitable to them.
Our provision aims to build confidence in reading and writing, number sense and calculating, or longer-term cross-curriculum creative projects working towards an end goal. Where appropriate, we can support towards gaining accredited certification. By addressing each young person’s unique needs, we help them form positive connections in a safe, nurturing environment. This boosts confidence and self-esteem, enabling long-term change and positive outcomes.
Designated Safeguarding Leads
Matt Edge
matt@cambridgeacornproject.org.uk
Becky Wilburn
becky.wilburn@cambridgeacornproject.org.uk
Hannah Chapman
hannah.chapman@cambridgeacornproject.org.uk
Current Projects
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Therapeutic Education: Project Support
A new supported therapeutic learning environment for children aged 8 to 12 who are home educated or being educated other than at school.
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Therapeutic Education: Learn about Transport!
A 6 week course to learn about transport and complete an optional AQA unit certificate to demonstrate your learning.
About AQA Unit Award Scheme (UAS)
The Unit Award Scheme provides a distinctive approach to acknowledging learner achievements. By completing units of learning, children and young people can earn certificates that formally recognise their progress. This allows learners to build a portfolio showcasing their skills, knowledge, and experience.