Alternative Education Provision (AEP) - Children’s Sensory Therapy. Occupational Therapists in the Midlands

What We Do

At Children’s Sensory Therapy AEP, we offer a specialised educational provision designed for children aged 11-16 years who are academically able, motivated to re-engage with learning, and able to manage being outside their home environment for three hours in a one-to-one learning setting. Our provision is tailored for children who have struggled to thrive in mainstream education but have no significant behavioural needs. By offering a nurturing and safe space for learning, we aim to empower young people to develop essential life skills, re-engage with education, and achieve positive outcomes that allow them to reach their full potential.

A Personalised and Nurturing Approach

Our service provides an innovative, flexible, and compassionate alternative for academically able children who require a different approach than mainstream education. We combine high-quality one-to-one learning delivered by a qualified English teacher with one-to-one therapeutic sessions led by an occupational therapist. Each child’s plan is tailored to their unique needs, with 3 hours of personalised support per week, for minimum of 12 weeks. Our environment is intentionally designed to be safe, welcoming, and responsive to the needs of neurodiverse children, ensuring they feel supported and understood.

Supporting Children Who Want to Learn

Our programme is specifically designed for children who are eager to learn but need a more personalised and flexible approach. We provide:

Tailored Educational Pathways: A customised curriculum that focuses on each child’s academic strengths, while addressing any social, emotional, or sensory needs they may have.
One-to-One Learning: Each child receives individualised teaching from a qualified teacher, allowing them to explore their academic potential at their own pace.
Therapeutic Support: We offer Occupational Therapy therapeutic sessions that help children manage emotional or sensory processing challenges, plus the development of functional skills, creating a holistic approach that supports their academic and personal growth.

Service Requirements and Intended Outcomes

Our service is designed for children who:

Are academically able and motivated to re-engage with learning.
Can manage being outside of their home environment in a one-to-one setting for three hours a day.

The key outcomes we aim to achieve include:

1. Fostering Academic Achievement:
We support children by providing a tailored curriculum that helps them work towards qualifications or personal learning goals, enabling academic success.

2. Building Confidence and Independence:
By offering a nurturing and structured environment, we help children develop confidence and independence, empowering them to take ownership of their learning and future.

3. Re-engagement with Education:
Our alternative provision offers children a fresh start. We provide the flexibility and personalised attention they need to rebuild their passion for learning in a safe and supportive environment.

4. Addressing the Root Causes of School Struggles:
We recognise that school struggles often stem from challenges such as anxiety, trauma, or sensory processing difficulties. Our approach focuses on addressing these root causes, creating a space where children can thrive academically and emotionally.

Filling a Crucial Gap in Education

Our service fills a crucial gap for young people who fall outside traditional educational models. Mainstream schools often adopt a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, which does not suit every child, especially those with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and SEMH (Social, Emotional, and Mental Health) needs. By offering a bespoke, therapeutic, flexible alternative, we ensure that no child is left without the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their challenges.

Meeting the Needs of Academically Able Children

We are particularly well-suited to supporting children who are academically able but who have experienced difficulties in traditional school settings due to SEND or SEMH needs. Our service is:

Ideal for young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or severe anxiety who need a tailored approach to succeed.
Suitable for children awaiting an EHCP or whose EHCP recommends specialist provision, providing personalised education during these transition periods.
A great fit for young people who need a one-to-one learning environment to build confidence before transitioning to a larger educational setting.
For children who require the additional therapeutic support from Occupational Therapy, to meet emotional, sensory and functional needs.

A Path to Re-engagement

For young people who may have been unable to access mainstream education, we offer a nurturing, therapeutic one-to-one learning environment as an initial step towards re-engaging with education. This safe, structured setting allows children to gradually rebuild their confidence in learning and grow emotionally, providing a pathway to future success.

At CST, we envision a world where every child, regardless of their challenges, can access the education and therapeutic support they need to reach their full potential. Our mission is to bridge the gap for children who are “hard to place” by offering an alternative, compassionate approach to education that celebrates individuality and addresses the whole child—academically, emotionally, and socially. By fostering resilience, independence, and success, we strive to empower every child we support to thrive in both education and life.

Inclusive Therapeutic Services

While our educational provision is specifically designed for academically able children without significant behavioural challenges, our therapeutic services at Children’s Sensory Therapy Ltd are inclusive of all children. We only have a small educational offer, but we are committed to supporting the diverse needs of every child, whether they face emotional, behavioural, or developmental challenges via our therapeutic services, which can be offered via Children’s Sensory Therapy Ltd.

Ultimately, our service is about providing a safe and nurturing space where academically able children can thrive. Through our unique combination of tailored education and holistic therapeutic support, we empower each child to succeed academically, personally, and emotionally, helping them reach their full potential.

Admission Criteria

CST AEP is for students who would benefit from both accessing education and receiving therapeutic input, with a particular emphasis on occupational therapy. Students are likely to fall into one or more of the following categories:

Neurodivergent students (e.g., those with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing difficulties) who require specialist therapeutic interventions and a sensory-friendly environment.
Students who have experienced trauma or attachment disruptions, which impact their ability to engage fully in mainstream education.
Students with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties, particularly those who would benefit from therapeutic interventions such as occupational therapy to support emotional regulation and coping skills.
Students with poor school attendance due to anxiety, Emotional Based School Avoidance, or disengagement from mainstream settings.
Students who need support with emotional and/ or sensory regulation, fine or gross motor skills, functional skills or other occupational therapy-related needs.