The Alternate Path is a holistic alternative provision for young people aged 11–19 who are struggling to access mainstream education. We provide a calm, structured, and ambitious learning environment — working in partnership with schools and local authorities across West and North West London.
The Alternate Path is a community-based, holistic alternative provision based in Wembley, serving West and North West London. We work with young people aged 11–19 who face barriers to mainstream education — including emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), persistent absence, behavioural challenges, and complex personal circumstances.
We operate as a part-time, supplementary provision. The referring school remains the primary educational provider, and we work closely in partnership to ensure every young person receives consistent, joined-up support. Our maximum cohort of 4–6 students per group ensures a high staff-to-student ratio and genuine individual attention.
Operating from Seeds Hub, Empire Way, Wembley HA9 0RJ, our community-based setting is deliberately chosen to remove the anxiety-triggering aspects of traditional school buildings — helping young people feel safe, seen, and ready to learn.
Trust is the foundation of everything we do. We invest time in building genuine, consistent relationships with young people and families.
We hold high expectations for every young person — supporting progress in core subjects alongside meaningful personal development.
Our calm, neutral community setting gives young people a fresh start — away from labels, triggers, and the pressure of institutional environments.
Every student has an Individual Learning Plan tailored to their current attainment, needs, and goals — reviewed regularly with the referring school.
We combine targeted academic support, weekly mentoring, and access to therapeutic interventions — delivered in small groups within a calm, structured environment. Students on short-term stabilisation placements (6–12 weeks) or longer-term arrangements all receive the same high standard of care and teaching, with progress shared transparently with referring schools every term.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility at The Alternate Path. We operate a comprehensive Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, aligned with the statutory guidance set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), and reviewed regularly to ensure it reflects current best practice.
All safeguarding procedures are available to referring schools and local authorities on request. We maintain close communication with Brent and Ealing Children's Services, and welcome quality assurance visits from commissioning authorities.
All concerns are reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately and recorded factually and securely. Where a child is in immediate danger, staff contact emergency services first.
You do not need to be certain to raise a concern. Contact our DSL directly, or use the local authority contacts below. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
Teaching is primarily delivered according to a student's chronological age and stage of education, while recognising that many students will have experienced gaps. We emphasise English and Maths — central to future education and employment — alongside Science, enrichment, and personal development.
GCSE catch-up and Functional Skills Level 1/2, with targeted exam prep, adaptive strategies and oracy work built into mentoring sessions.
Delivered through curiosity and practical application — accessible for students with SEMH needs who may struggle with dense theory.
Weekly 1:1 mentoring focused on confidence, emotional regulation, and motivation — embedded throughout the school week.
Creative projects, physical activity, and teamwork opportunities that build resilience and self-confidence.
Access to counselling, therapy sessions and family outreach where commissioned — ensuring home and provision are aligned.
Post-16/18 guidance, CV writing, work experience and phased reintegration plans — building clear next steps for every student.
Each student has an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) developed following an initial academic and wellbeing baseline assessment. The ILP identifies attainment levels, learning priorities, behavioural targets, and wellbeing considerations — reviewed termly and shared with referring schools.
Family-focused outreach supports progress at home, ensuring improvements made in provision are reinforced beyond the classroom.
Individual student attendance is capped at a maximum of 18 hours per week in line with regulatory requirements for supplementary provisions, ensuring our offer remains a specialist intervention rather than a replacement for full-time schooling.
We aim to review all referrals within 48 hours and can typically confirm placements and agree a start date within the same week.
The referring school completes our referral form and submits supporting documentation — including safeguarding information, attainment data, and SEN/SEMH background. We then conduct a suitability discussion with the school.
We carry out an initial academic and wellbeing baseline assessment to determine targets, interventions, and the student's Individual Learning Plan. This shapes everything that follows.
Once confirmed, a start date is agreed — often within the same week. We maintain regular communication throughout the placement, with termly progress updates shared with the referring school.
We welcome enquiries from schools, local authorities, social workers, and families. We aim to respond within 48 hours.
We're building a small, dedicated team of people who believe in the potential of every young person. If you're committed to trauma-informed, relational practice and want to make a genuine difference — we'd love to hear from you.
We're looking for qualified or experienced tutors in English, Maths and Science who can adapt their practice to meet young people with SEMH needs. Experience in alternative provision, SEND or pupil referral units is highly valued. Small group and 1:1 delivery.
● Enquire nowWe're seeking mentors and key workers who can build trusted, consistent relationships with young people. You'll support motivation, goal-setting, emotional regulation, and family engagement. Experience in youth work, social care or SEMH settings is welcome.
● Enquire nowWe commission qualified therapists, counsellors, and wellbeing practitioners on an associate basis. If you're experienced in working with young people with trauma, anxiety or attachment difficulties — we'd like to hear from you.
● Associate rolesWe hold expressions of interest on file and
contact you when suitable roles open.
All The Alternate Path policies are reviewed regularly and available for download. Our safeguarding policy is central to everything we do.
Aligned with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), this policy sets out our comprehensive approach to safeguarding every young person in our provision. Available to all referring schools and local authorities.
Word Document (.docx)
Policy requests & hard copies: All policies are available in accessible formats on request. If you are a referring school, local authority, or parent/carer and require a printed copy or have questions about any of our policies, please contact us at jade@thealternatepath.co.uk or call 07712 519 676.