: INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES

Achievement Unlocked AP is a post-16 alternative provision for SEND learners in Nottinghamshire. It is designed for young people aged 16-25 years who wish to continue their studies in a smaller, more personalised setting.

Learners at our alternative provision will need an EHCP in order to be referred by Nottinghamshire County Council. If an EHCP has lapsed due to time away from education and you are unsure whether a young person is eligible, it is best to contact us our Alternative Provision Manager to discuss further. We may be able to support you in getting this document reinstated if this deemed appropriate for the young person to meaningfully reengage with educational programmes.If a young person does not yet hold an EHCP, they can still access our youth hub to develop their confidence, get them used to the facilities and socialising with other young people their age. The Mansfield hub is open from 12-4pm Monday-Friday and there are free youth activities scheduled daily.

Absolutely, families can learn more through our local offer and open events. These are a good way to find out whether the provision feels like the right fit for a young person and if you are unable to attend our scheduled events, we will happily accommodate requests for personal tours at a time that suits you. Click the button below to jump to the contact details for our AP manager who will be happy to assist you further.

Achievement Unlocked AP is part of the Inspire and Achieve Foundation, a specialist youth charity that has supported young people aged 16-26 for over a 15 years. We work exclusively in Nottinghamshire to inspire and empower young people who are not in education, employment or training; strong local connections connect our service users to colleges, community volunteering, work experience and job opportunities and through our network of youth hubs, ~70% of those we support will secure a positive destination. Of those completing an educational programme with us, 91% successfully gain at least one nationally-recognised qualification.Through 1:1 mentoring, outreach activities and delivery of The King's Trust Team programme, we have supported many young people facing a range of personal barriers such as poor mental health, learning disabilities, homelessness and more. Many of these individuals struggled with learning and negative experiences of school/college so we built our Mansfield venue to counter this; a one stop shop for support, education and training and most importantly a sense of belonging. We have qualified ELSA trained staff as well as professional educators with extensive experience within SEND settings. Our professional staff team take a relational approach to behaviour and we use trauma-informed practice to help our young people work through their personal barriers and look towards their future with confidence.

Our post-16 curriculum includes a mixture of project-based learning, functional skills, and vocational pathways based on the individual learners needs and future aspirations. It is designed to support progression, helping learners build a foundation of practical knowledge and confidence whilst also allowing them to build there own timetable around the topics that help them feel excited about learning again. Click the button below to jump to our curriculum and see an example timetable.

Yes, functional skills qualifications are part of our offer. If these qualifications are required, young people will have study time for these subjects built into their personal development days and will be supported by our team. The course itself is completed virtually, meaning learners have access to course materials at home, within our hubs or if they change setting. Exams are also held online so they can be sat where a young person feels most comfortable and at ease to achieve their best.

Yes, we provide an accredited careers programme as part of our alternative provision which supports learners in exploring their next steps and developing skills for the future. Our careers programme aligns with the Gatsby Benchmarks and outlines our commitment to deliver a range of insightful careers activities, experiences and guidance whilst learners are with us.

Our Alternative Provision is commissioned by Nottinghamshire County Council and as such complies to their annual quality assurance reviews. We also have an onsite Quality and Compliance Manager who oversees our provision as well as the submission of work samples to external partners and awarding bodies as required. As part of The Inspire & Achieve Foundation, we also undergo assessment of our teaching and IAG delivery through the independent Matrix standard. This covers all of our activities including that of the Achievement Unlocked alternative provision.

Learners from our alternative provision will work in small groups of ~10 to ensure they feel seen, heard and supported in their studies. Group sessions are typically supported by a team leader and assistant team leader although we can offer 1:1 support at home or in our youth hubs if this is required.

We recognise that every young person is different and their transition to alternative provision may require wider support from the whole family. We want to ensure that young people feel at ease during their time with us and we will work collaboratively with families to facilitate a smooth transition both into and out of our programmes. During early meetings, we will discuss how you wish to hear from us but you will also receive our termly newsletter and have a direct line through to our AP manager should any other day to day questions arise.

Safeguarding is an important part of our approach for post-16 learners with SEND. We aim to provide a safe and supportive environment where young people can learn with confidence.

Our policies are available here on our website for families and professionals who want peace of mind when choosing an education provider in Nottinghamshire. They can help you understand how the provision operates and provide you with clear points of contact for any questions or concerns about activities at our setting.

Please contact our Alternative Provision Manager to discuss a referral or ask about the setting. We encourage families and providers to get in touch if they want to explore whether Achievement Unlocked AP is suitable and come and visit the Mansfield venue to see our youth hub in action, talk to staff and view examples of current learners projects.