Overview
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Our Alternative Provision (AP) pathway is designed to support young people who are either disengaged from mainstream education and/or would benefit from an opportunity to develop digital skills in a calm, focussed learning environment. The programme aims to enhance their employability, confidence, and re-engagement with education through a structured, supportive, and innovative approach.
We currently offer one and two-day per week placements on site at DISC.
Alongside our existing AP route, we also offer a transitional AP pathway for young people who have applied for a full-time place at DISC but are not yet ready for the rigours of a full work-based learning programme.
These learners attend up to two days a week, following a lighter-touch, highly personalised timetable designed to gradually prepare them for future progression onto one of our full-time programmes. This includes a greater emphasis on removing barriers to learning, such as speech, language and communication needs, social, emotional and mental health difficulties, or gaps in digital confidence.
This flexible offer means we can meet young people where they are and help them build the skills, routines, and confidence they need to take their next steps, whether that’s at DISC or beyond.
A parent of one of DISC’s Alternative Provision students was full of praise for DISC. She said her son, despite bouts of ill health and sickness, is desperate not to miss a day at DISC. She said they are both so happy that there is a provision like ours so he can finally use his talents, unlike school where he has a reduced timetable of core subjects. She feels like he is finally working with his talents and doing something he loves. He said he had been working on Canva and came home full of chat about it. A game he's designing - he wants the whole family to play it by Christmas.
Teaching and Learning
Our teaching approach is fully inclusive and tailored to each learner’s needs, ensuring they receive the support and guidance necessary to succeed. By delivering a bespoke curriculum that adapts to different learning styles, we create an engaging environment where young people can develop digital skills at their own pace.
Small class sizes and one-to-one mentoring build confidence, independence, and a sense of achievement. Lessons combine practical projects, real-world applications, and industry-relevant content, making learning both meaningful and motivating. The programme also provides opportunities for social engagement, encouraging collaboration and positive relationships in a supportive setting.
A key aim is for every learner to build a digital portfolio they are proud of, showcasing their skills and achievements to enhance future opportunities.
In our two-day transition model, learners continue to develop digital and employability skills while receiving targeted support to address wider barriers to learning. This includes preparation for future full-time study, with a focus on readiness, communication, routine-building, and social-emotional development.
This structured yet flexible approach not only improves employability and personal growth but also supports re-engagement with education in a positive and empowering way.
Programme Aims:
- To re-engage young people in education through a tailored digital skills curriculum.
- To provide a safe and supportive off-site learning environment.
- To improve employability by equipping learners with industry-relevant digital skills.
- To foster confidence, resilience, and motivation for continued education or employment.
- To develop pathways for further education, apprenticeships, or digital sector careers.
- To offer a transitional stepping-stone for learners preparing to join our full-time programmes.
Programme Outcomes:
- Re-engagement in Education: Measured through attendance and participation.
- Skills Development including Skills for Life and Employment: Measured by assessment of technical proficiency in digital tools and software, including Entry Level and Level 1 qualifications where appropriate.
- Personal Growth: Improved self-esteem, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
- Progression Readiness: For transitional learners, this includes assessment of preparedness for DISC Foundation programmes, with a particular focus on communication, routine-building, and self-management.
Frequently Asked Questions
For learners needing higher levels of support, add-on costs will be discussed at the point of referral.
Transitional offers may be funded via the young person’s local authority. For these, we arrange discussions with EHCP coordinators on a case-by-case basis. All offers are subject to funding agreement and may vary depending on the level of need.