Toucan is expanding!

Following the success of our hugely popular Alternative Provision in the Ouseburn, Newcastle, we’re pleased to announce we have secured a second site in Gateshead.

Our newest hub set in the former gym premises at Blaydon Rugby Football Club, in the heart of the Derwent Valley, right beside the A1, will allow us to provide Alternative Education to even more children South of the Tyne and beyond, and due to the increased size and location of the venue, we will be able to offer a broader range of exciting educational and recreational activities.

The new Gateshead hub is currently undergoing a massive renovation, and our specialist staff are working closely with our architects, CoachHouse8, and specialist contractors, Barnes Thompson Developments, to create a dream wish list of features for the children who attend Toucan. There will be a specially designed yoga and movement room with designated calm space featuring hammocks, bean bags and relaxation pods for when the children need quiet time to decompress. A climbing wall to build strength, improve fine and gross motor skills and cognition and a foam pit to stimulate sensory development and processing.

The venue is only a short walk from Derwent Valley Country Park, so outdoor learning will be a priority. Children can join in with bike riding, nature exploring and our forest school. A new enclosed outdoor space will have a play area with plans for allotments where children can be part of Toucan’s gardening club. There will be multi-use teaching spaces, sound proofed dyslexia assessment suites, a big kitchen with food tech facilities so children can prepare meals, try more foods and develop their own creations.

Toucan’s founder, Philippa Vince, says, “The demand for Alternative Provision education in the North East is at an all time high, our new venue will help us to meet those needs while creating a unique educational setting that will help each Toucan child to reach their potential.”

We can’t wait to welcome you to our new hub. Watch this space for updates!