Learners with an EHCP awaiting a placement
Interim education that keeps learning, routine and relationships going while a suitable school or college place is found.
SEND & ALTERNATIVE PROVISION FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Every child deserves
a way back to learning.
Universal Childcare provides one-to-one SEND support, alternative provision and specialist tuition for children and young people who are out of school, excluded, awaiting a placement or needing extra support. We work alongside local authorities, schools and families to plan, deliver and review every placement.
Referrals from SEND teams, Virtual Schools, schools and families
Small steps.
Brighter futures.
Brighter futures.
EHCP-informed planning One-to-one and learner-led Attendance and progress records Child-centred, always
WHO WE SUPPORT
Learners who need more
than the usual route.
Children and young people from early years to post-16, referred by local authorities, Virtual Schools, schools and families.
Children unable to attend because of health needs
Including anxiety and emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), where a local authority is arranging education under Section 19.
Young people excluded or at risk of exclusion
Education from the sixth day of an exclusion, or targeted support that helps a pupil keep their school place.
Children missing education
Learners who are new to an area, between schools or without a school place, who need education in place while longer-term arrangements are made.
Children looked after
Tuition and mentoring commissioned by Virtual Schools to close gaps, build stability and support Personal Education Plan targets.
Learners moving between settings
A bridge into a new school, specialist provision, college or training, with handover information for the receiving setting.
OUR SERVICES
Specialist support,
shaped around the learner.
Commissioned by local authorities and schools, or arranged directly by families.
01
EHCP-INFORMED
SEND support
One-to-one education for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, planned around their EHCP outcomes, strengths and interests.
Explore send support02
INTERIM & RE-ENGAGEMENT
Alternative provision
Personalised programmes for learners who are out of school, focused on re-engagement, progress and a planned route back into education.
Explore alternative provision03
TARGETED LEARNING
Specialist tuition
Targeted one-to-one tuition in core subjects and exam preparation for learners who have missed school or need help to access the curriculum.
Explore specialist tuitionNot sure which service fits? Choose “Not sure yet” on the referral form
WHEN EDUCATION IS DISRUPTED
Exclusions, alternative provision
and home education.
When school stops working, children still need good education. We help learners, families and local authorities find the next step.
SUSPENSIONS & PERMANENT EXCLUSIONS
Exclusion support
Education from the sixth day of an exclusion, support for pupils at risk of exclusion, and a planned return to school or a fresh start somewhere new.
Find out moreSECTION 19 & EOTIS
Alternative provision
Interim one-to-one education for learners who can’t attend school because of illness, exclusion or a lack of a suitable place.
Find out moreFOR HOME-EDUCATING FAMILIES
Home education support
Specialist tuition and SEND-aware support for families who home educate, whether by long-held choice or after a difficult time at school.
Find out moreFOR COMMISSIONERS
What every placement
includes.
Clear planning and reporting, so local authorities, schools and families always know how a placement is going.
Initial assessment
We start with the referral information, the learner’s views and an assessment of their starting point, interests and barriers to learning.
An individual learning plan
A written plan setting out what will be taught, where and when, with SMART targets linked to EHCP outcomes or Personal Education Plan targets.
Session records
Attendance and engagement are recorded for every session, so you always know whether the provision is being accessed.
Progress reports
Written updates against agreed targets at intervals agreed with you, plus contributions to annual reviews and planning meetings when requested.
Risk assessment
Each placement is risk assessed before sessions begin, covering the learner, the venue and any travel, and reviewed when circumstances change.
A named contact
One point of contact for the referrer, family and professionals, who can attend professionals’ meetings and keep everyone informed.
A different path.
Their own potential.
Their own potential.
OUR APPROACH
See the child.
Not just the referral.
Behind every referral is a young person with interests, strengths and their own experience of education. Many of the learners we’re asked to support have lost trust in school, so rebuilding that trust comes first.
We listen to the learner, their family and the professionals around them, then build a programme that’s ambitious about progress and realistic about where the learner is starting from.
01 Understand the learner02 Build trust first03 Plan with purpose04 Review and move forward
About Universal ChildcareAREAS OF NEED
Support across the four
broad areas of need.
The SEND Code of Practice groups special educational needs into four broad areas. Many learners have needs in more than one, so every plan starts with the individual.
Communication and interaction
Including autism and speech, language and communication needs. Clear routines, visual supports and adapted language help learners take part with confidence.
Cognition and learning
Including moderate learning difficulties and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. Learning is broken into manageable, multi-sensory steps.
Social, emotional and mental health
Including anxiety, ADHD, attachment difficulties and emotionally based school avoidance. Relationships, predictability and a gradual pace come first.
Sensory and/or physical needs
Including hearing, visual and physical impairments. Sessions, resources and venues are adapted, guided by the advice of specialist professionals.
Want to understand SEN support, EHCPs and annual reviews? Read our SEND guide
THE REFERRAL PROCESS
From referral to
a plan that works.
A clear process, with nothing agreed until you have a written proposal.
- 01
Make a referral
Complete our referral form or call us. Tell us about the learner’s needs, their current education and what you’d like the placement to achieve.
- 02
Consultation
We discuss the referral with you, receive the EHCP and other documents through a secure route, and listen to the learner and their family.
- 03
Proposal
You receive a written proposal setting out hours, location, delivery and costs. Nothing starts until it’s agreed.
- 04
Matching and planning
We match the learner with a tutor or mentor with relevant experience, complete the risk assessment and agree targets.
- 05
Start, review and transition
Sessions begin with a focus on trust and engagement. Progress is reported and reviewed, with a plan for the learner’s next step.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP
Here for the learner.
Here for you, too.
Whether you’re commissioning provision, supporting a pupil or looking for help for your own child, start with a conversation.
SEND, INCLUSION & VIRTUAL SCHOOL TEAMSClear provision.
Clear provision.
Clear accountability.
Commission one-to-one SEND support or interim alternative provision with planning, attendance records and progress reporting built in. We work with your caseworkers, the family and other professionals throughout.
Information for local authoritiesSCHOOLS & ACADEMIESSupport for pupils who
Support for pupils who
need something different.
Discuss targeted tuition, SEND support or off-site provision for pupils who are struggling to attend or engage, are at risk of exclusion or need help catching up. We keep you informed with session records and progress updates.
Refer a pupilPARENTS & CARERSYou know your child best.
You know your child best.
We’ll listen.
If your child is out of school, has been excluded, is home educated or is struggling with SEND, talk to us. Where support is funded by the local authority, the referral usually comes from your child’s caseworker or school, and we can explain how this works.
Talk to our teamQUESTIONS FROM REFERRERS AND FAMILIES
Questions are
a good start.
Can’t see your question here?
Ask our teamWho can make a referral?
Local authority SEND and EHCP teams, inclusion and Section 19 teams, Virtual Schools, schools and academies, and health or social care professionals can refer a learner. Parents and carers are welcome to contact us too. Where provision is funded by a local authority or school, we’ll work with them to arrange it.
What information should a referral include?
The reason for the referral, the learner’s key stage, their needs and any EHCP or support plan, recent attendance, relevant risk information and the hours or outcomes you have in mind. Please don’t send names or documents through the website. Once we’ve been in touch, we’ll agree a secure way to share them.
Can you provide education from the sixth day of an exclusion?
Schools and local authorities can commission us to provide one-to-one education for excluded learners. Tell us the start date you need when you refer, and we’ll confirm what we can provide.
Where do sessions take place?
Sessions can take place in the learner’s home, a suitable community venue, at school or online, depending on the learner’s needs and the risk assessment. The location is agreed with the referrer and family before sessions begin.
How will we know how the placement is going?
Attendance and engagement are recorded for every session. You’ll receive progress updates against agreed targets at intervals agreed with you, and we can contribute to annual reviews, Personal Education Plan meetings and professionals’ meetings.
Can the package change once it has started?
Yes. Hours, focus and duration can be reviewed with the referrer as the learner’s circumstances change, for example increasing time as confidence grows or planning a phased return to school.
Do you support home-educating families?
Yes. Families who home educate can arrange specialist tuition and SEND-aware support directly with us. Our home education page explains the difference between elective home education and education arranged by the local authority.
What does a placement cost?
Costs depend on the hours, location and level of support required. You’ll receive a clear written proposal, including fees and terms, before any placement is agreed.
Which areas do you cover?
Tell us where the learner lives when you get in touch, and we’ll confirm whether we can provide the support in that area.
HAVE A LEARNER IN MIND?