For Children Who Need a Different Pathway
When a child is no longer able to fully access mainstream education, finding the right support can feel complex and urgent.
Toucan Education works alongside schools and local authorities to understand the child, identify the barriers they are experiencing and create a personalised pathway that rebuilds confidence, engagement and readiness to learn.
As a leading specialist provider of Alternative Provision, Flexi School and bespoke SEND support, we offer more than a placement. We provide trusted expertise, experienced professionals and practical solutions shaped around each child.
Explore Our Provision
We work with schools and local authorities to provide flexible, structured support shaped around each pupil’s needs, strengths and current circumstances.
Our provision can support pupils who are experiencing barriers to attendance, confidence, emotional wellbeing, communication or engagement with learning. Support may be short term, longer term or part of a wider education package.
We take time to understand what is happening for the pupil, what support has already been tried and what meaningful progress could look like. From there, we help create a pathway that feels realistic, purposeful and focused on longer term success.
Our current provision includes:
EBSA Groups
Support for primary and secondary pupils experiencing emotionally based school avoidance, anxiety or difficulty attending school consistently.
Forest School
Outdoor learning at our Ryton site for pupils who benefit from practical activities, movement, nurturing support and a low demand environment
Community Groups
Support for pupils who are struggling to engage with school or any other form of educational provision, with a focus on trust, confidence and positive relationships.
Play Based Learning Groups
Purposeful play based support for younger children and pupils who continue to benefit from approaches focused on communication, language, regulation and social development.
Flexi School
Specialist dyslexia and literacy support for children aged 5 to 15, including support towards EHCP outcomes linked to reading, spelling, writing, confidence and access to learning.
Bespoke Packages
Personalised support created around the needs, interests, outcomes and circumstances of an individual pupil, school or local authority.
More Than a Placement
Schools and local authorities are often looking for more than an available place. They need a trusted partner who understands the reasons behind disengagement, attendance difficulties, anxiety and unmet SEND needs.
At Toucan Education, we take time to understand the child, what has already been tried and what meaningful progress could look like. We then work collaboratively with the school, family, local authority and wider professionals to create support that is realistic, purposeful and shaped around the child.
Our aim is not simply to help a pupil attend a session. It is to rebuild confidence, strengthen relationships, improve engagement and create the foundations for longer term progress.
The Toucan Support Pathway helps schools, local authorities and families explore a pupil’s confidence, learning, independence, emotional wellbeing, communication and level of support required.
The pathway provides a clearer understanding of the pupil’s current needs and the type of provision that may be most appropriate. It can help identify whether they may benefit from confidence and learning support, personalised learning, structured support and re engagement, higher level specialist support or a bespoke pathway.
Building trusted relationships with pupils.
We create calm, consistent environments where pupils feel understood, respected and supported by trusted adults.
Creating personalised pathways around individual needs.
Support is shaped around each pupil’s strengths, interests, barriers and longer term goals.
Rebuilding confidence, engagement and readiness to learn.
We recognise that progress often begins with helping pupils feel safe, capable and willing to take part again.
Supporting emotional wellbeing, communication and independence.
Our provision helps pupils develop the skills they need to manage emotions, express themselves and become more confident in everyday situations.
Working collaboratively with schools, families and local authorities.
We work as part of the wider team around the pupil to create joined up, realistic and purposeful support.
Providing clear communication throughout the placement.
Schools, families and professionals are kept informed about progress, engagement and any changes in support needs.
Supporting progress towards longer term education outcomes.
Our aim is to help each pupil move towards a sustainable next step, whether that is increased attendance, greater independence, re engagement with learning or preparation for a future placement.
Why Work With Toucan Education?
Toucan Education provides more than specialist provision. We become a trusted partner to the school, local authority and wider team supporting each pupil.
Our relationship based approach allows us to understand the child behind the referral. We consider their strengths, interests, experiences and current barriers before shaping support around what will help them feel safe, confident and ready to engage.
All provision is overseen by qualified teachers and supported by experienced SEND professionals. We combine specialist knowledge with flexibility, clear communication and a shared commitment to achieving meaningful outcomes.
We focus on:
A Flexible Approach to Placement and Support
Every pupil’s needs, circumstances and education journey are different. Some may benefit from a short period of focused support to rebuild confidence and engagement, while others may require a longer term Alternative Provision placement, a Flexi School programme or a bespoke package.
We work with schools and local authorities to shape support around the pupil, rather than expecting the pupil to fit a fixed model. Placements can be reviewed and adapted as confidence, attendance, wellbeing and readiness to learn develop.
Our approach is designed to be realistic, purposeful and connected to the pupil’s wider education pathway. This helps ensure that support remains appropriate while creating clear next steps towards longer term progress.
Make an Enquiry
Finding the right provision starts with understanding the pupil, their current needs and the barriers they may be experiencing.
Schools and local authorities can contact Toucan Education to explore the most appropriate support, whether this is Alternative Provision, an EBSA Group, Forest School, Community Groups, Play Based Learning, Flexi School or a bespoke package
EBSA Groups
Our EBSA Groups support primary and secondary pupils who are experiencing emotionally based school avoidance, anxiety or difficulty attending school consistently. Sessions provide a calm and understanding environment where pupils can begin to rebuild trust, confidence and positive relationships with education.
Support focuses on emotional regulation, communication, social development and gradual re engagement. We work with schools, families and other professionals to understand the reasons behind the attendance difficulties and create realistic next steps for each pupil.
Forest School
Our Forest School provision is based at our Ryton site and offers outdoor learning within a nurturing and low demand environment. It is designed for pupils who benefit from movement, practical activities, access to nature and learning outside a traditional classroom.
Sessions support confidence, resilience, communication, teamwork and emotional wellbeing. Activities are shaped around the needs and interests of the pupils, helping them to build positive relationships and reconnect with learning at a pace that feels manageable.
Community Groups
Our Community Groups are designed for pupils who are struggling to engage with school or any other form of educational provision. They provide a supportive starting point for children and young people who may feel anxious, disconnected or uncertain about returning to learning.
Sessions focus on rebuilding trust, developing self esteem and creating positive relationships through practical and high interest activities. As confidence grows, pupils are supported to increase their engagement and begin considering the next stage of their education pathway.
Play Based Learning Groups
Our Play Based Learning Groups support younger children and pupils who continue to benefit from play based approaches beyond the Early Years. Sessions provide opportunities to explore, communicate and learn within a structured but flexible environment.
Through purposeful play and high quality continuous provision, pupils can develop language, social interaction, emotional regulation and confidence. Support is personalised to reflect each child’s stage of development, interests and individual needs.
Flexi School
Toucan Flexi School provides specialist dyslexia and literacy support for children aged 5 to 15. Children can attend alongside mainstream school or home education, allowing them to receive focused support while remaining connected to their wider education pathway.
Sessions focus on reading, spelling, writing, confidence and access to learning. Our specialist approach can also support EHCP outcomes and literacy related targets, with teaching shaped around the child’s strengths, needs and preferred ways of learning.
Bespoke Packages
Our Bespoke Packages are designed for pupils who need a level or type of support that does not fit within a standard service. We work with schools and local authorities to understand the pupil’s current barriers, strengths, interests and longer term outcomes.
A package may combine different elements of our provision or be created around a specific need, timetable or transition plan. The aim is to provide practical, purposeful support that complements existing provision and gives the pupil a clearer pathway forward.