ENGAGE
Alternative Provision
Helping young people develop and thrive
If you are supporting a young person who is struggling in mainstream education, The Platform Project can help.
Our Engage programme is a small-group based alternative educational provision for young people aged 11–16 years old (Years 7-11) need an alternative provision to run alongside school or are home schooled and seeking additional experience and socialisation.
What we do
The main thread of our programme is youth-led business development. We support students with running their own business projects centred around their own passions and interests. Through this, students learn what it means to be self-employed and develop expertise in logo design, product development, marketing and social media management and developing customer relations.
In conjunction with their enterprise, students develop a wide range of skills through our 6 key areas of learning:
- Aspiration and employability
- Interaction and Communication
- Social and Emotional Well-Being
- Education (including basic English and Maths)
- Life-skills
- Digital Media
We also work with referrers to ensure we focus on specific aims for individuals.
Our proven development model introduces young people to a range of different career skills and youth led business options resulting in an 82% success rate in returning young people to education, employment, or enterprise.
ENGAGE Programme Benefits
- Practical alternative education small group sessions
- Prevention of becoming NEET / permanent exclusion from school
- High flexibility / choice and low demand environment
- Improved engagement & attendance
- Student interest led enterprise projects
- Emulates a training workplace environment
Next steps...
Schools & Authorities
If you are working with a young person who you think might benefit from this programme, please either get in touch to discuss their case or send in a referral. Every engagement is tailored to provide the most effective package of support that meets the young persons needs, so we will require as much information as you can provide us with such as their educational history, any risk assessments, official documentation such as an EHCP, and any safeguarding context.
Students
If you think this programme might be helpful for you we would love to hear from you! You can self-refer for our programmes and we will work with you to decide how we can best support you, identify any funding options, and make sure we fully understand how you need us to work with you so that you get the best out of the programme. The more you can tell us about yourself the better – understanding things like your hobbies, career goals and any fears or challenges you have helps us to make sure we can meet your needs. Get in touch if you would like to discuss how we can help or dive straight in and make a referral for yourself if you’re super keen!
Parents & Carers
Our range of programmes have all been designed to support young people at various stages of life who may be experiencing a range of different challenges. If you think that one of our programmes might be able to help a young person you are caring for please do get in touch to discuss their needs and how we could put together a bespoke package of support to help. We work closely with other agencies to make sure that we can provide wrap around support, so any information you can provide us with regarding their educational history, any mental health or lifestyle challenges, and any additional needs they have it is hugely helpful to make sure we can support them as effectively as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is ENGAGE ideal for?
Young people aged 11-16 (Year 7-11) who could benefit from:
• A practical alternative education
• Supportive, small group sessions
• Prevention of becoming NEET / permanent exclusion from school
• High flexibility / choice and low demand environment
• Improved engagement and attendance
• Youth led enterprise projects
• A training workplace environment
How much does it cost?
Full day 10.00am-4.00pm (4 hours) £100 per student. Half day (2 hours) £50 per student. Additional costs may apply.
How often can students attend and for how long?
Engage Alternative Provision runs alongside mainstream schooling on a part-time basis. Sessions run Monday to Friday, 10.00-2.00pm, within which young people will be offered a morning, afternoon or whole day(s), up to a maximum of 15 hours. This would be agreed with the referrer according to the students' need and availability of sessions.
Can students gain a qualification?
As an optional add on, we can also incorporate Level 1 & 2 qualifications through our partnership with The King’s Trust.
Additional fees apply so please ask us for details.
What softer skills can students gain?
We work with your students to build confidence and empower them to take control of their future.
We encourage your students to take care of and understand their own mental health and wellbeing.
How is the ENGAGE programme shaped to individual students needs?
We understand individual needs and work with each student in a way that suits them and their learning style best.
Does ENGAGE Alternative Provision deliver positive outcomes for young people?
Whilst 80% of the young people we work with are NEET or at risk of exclusion; 45% of the young people we work with are neurodiverse and 65% of the young people we work with have serious mental health challenges, a massive 82% of our previous students are now in education, employment or enterprise.
Safeguarding
This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all of our staff and volunteers to share this commitment because we believe that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. All postholders (paid staff AND volunteers) are expected to work in line with our safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures and all positions are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and check against the barred lists via the Disclosure and Barring Service.