Community-based Alternative Provision

Every young person deserves to thrive.

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.

Supporting referrals from
One-to-one tutor working with a student One-to-one teacher with a student Small group learning in a community space

A different kind of education for young people who need it most

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.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance Persistent Absence Risk of Exclusion Awaiting Specialist Placement SEN / SEMH Needs Looked After Children Known to Social Care / YOS
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Relationships First

Trust is the foundation of everything we do. We invest time in building genuine, consistent relationships with young people and families.

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High Aspirations

We hold high expectations for every young person — supporting progress in core subjects alongside meaningful personal development.

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Safety & Belonging

Our calm, neutral community setting gives young people a fresh start — away from labels, triggers, and the pressure of institutional environments.

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Individual Pathways

Every student has an Individual Learning Plan tailored to their current attainment, needs, and goals — reviewed regularly with the referring school.

"The aim is to stabilise pupils, rebuild engagement with education, and create clear pathways back into school, college, or vocational routes."

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.

The safety of every young person is our highest priority

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.

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Enhanced DBS for all staff, associates & volunteers

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DSL trained in KCSIE & local safeguarding arrangements

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Contextual safeguarding awareness for all staff

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Clear procedures for reporting & recording concerns

What our staff are trained to recognise

Physical, emotional and sexual abuse
Neglect
Child criminal exploitation (CCE)
Child sexual exploitation (CSE)
County lines involvement
Radicalisation
Online abuse and exploitation
Peer-on-peer harm

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.

Raise a safeguarding concern

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.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead
The Director, The Alternate Path
📧 safeguarding@thealternatepath.co.uk
📞 07712 519 676
Brent Children's Services
Family Front Door: 020 8937 4300 (option 1)
Adults: 020 8937 4098
Out of hours: 020 8863 5250
Prevent: prevent@brent.gov.uk
Ealing Children's Services
ECIRS: 020 8825 8000 (9am–5pm)
ecirs@ealing.gov.uk
Adults: 020 8825 8000
Emergency / out of hours: 020 8825 8000
Supportive one-to-one session with a young person

"Staff maintain a strong awareness of contextual risks that can affect young people outside the classroom."

Our approach to safeguarding goes beyond the provision itself — we consider the full context of each young person's life, including risks around county lines, exploitation, and online safety.

Structured, flexible learning that meets young people where they are

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.

Student focused on written work
Core

English & Maths

GCSE catch-up and Functional Skills Level 1/2, with targeted exam prep, adaptive strategies and oracy work built into mentoring sessions.

Science experiment in a community space
Core

Science

Delivered through curiosity and practical application — accessible for students with SEMH needs who may struggle with dense theory.

Small group session
Wellbeing

Mentoring & PSHE

Weekly 1:1 mentoring focused on confidence, emotional regulation, and motivation — embedded throughout the school week.

Young people active outdoors in London
Enrichment

Arts, Sport & Life Skills

Creative projects, physical activity, and teamwork opportunities that build resilience and self-confidence.

Counsellor working with a young person
Therapeutic

Counselling & Family Support

Access to counselling, therapy sessions and family outreach where commissioned — ensuring home and provision are aligned.

Mentor discussing post-16 options with a student
Destinations

Pathways & Transitions

Post-16/18 guidance, CV writing, work experience and phased reintegration plans — building clear next steps for every student.

How our model works

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.

Max 4–6 students per cohort 1–3 days per week 6–12 week stabilisation Longer placements available Blended / remote options Individual Learning Plans Termly progress reports Max 18 hours per week

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.

Getting started is straightforward

We aim to review all referrals within 48 hours and can typically confirm placements and agree a start date within the same week.

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Referral & Review

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.

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Assessment

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.

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Placement & Start

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.

Ready to make a referral, or want to discuss a student?

We welcome enquiries from schools, local authorities, social workers, and families. We aim to respond within 48 hours.

Join our team

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.

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Teaching & Tutoring

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 now
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Mentoring & Pastoral

We'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 now
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Therapeutic Support

We 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 roles

Not seeing the right role? Get in touch anyway.

Send your CV →

We hold expressions of interest on file and
contact you when suitable roles open.

Transparency, accountability & best practice

All The Alternate Path policies are reviewed regularly and available for download. Our safeguarding policy is central to everything we do.

All Policies
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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.