Shape House Doncaster
Shaping People, Growing Futures
Presence Participation Progress
Approved Alternative Provision
Shape House Doncaster is an alternative provision approved on local authority frameworks. We operate in line with DfE Alternative Provision guidance and national standards for safeguarding, quality and provision.
Who we are
We offer alternative provision for children/young people 11-16 with SEND. Our aim is reengagement and/or reintegration, offering a consistent provision to build confidence, life skills and sense of community and to facilitate the transition process to enable the child/young person to return to the most appropriate education setting.
At Shape House, we believe every child and young person deserves to feel safe, heard, and inspired to learn.
Our Centre Leads, Jamie and Chris have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) as well as various SEND qualifications. All staff have vast experience in working with children and young people with a range of special educational needs and disabilities.
Presence:
Taking the first step to access and re-engage in education. We create an environment where all children and young people feel welcome and valued.
Participation:
Feeling comfortable and confident to be able to join in, work with others and feel part of a community.
Progress:
Watching children and young people thrive, feel ownership over their learning and achieving aspirational, holistic outcomes.
We offer up to 3 days Alternative Provision, with children and young people remaining on roll at their current setting.
Our impact
100% improvement in attendance for children and young people accessing Shape House
- Over 90% attendance whilst attending our provision
- 4 out of 5 average engagement score across all learners
- 4 out of 5 average wellbeing score, reflecting improved confidence, emotional regulation, and happiness
What Our Families Say
Parents consistently tell us that Shape House helps children and young people to improve attendance, rebuild confidence, re-engage with learning, enhance their wellbeing, and develop positive relationships. Families value our caring, nurturing approach, strong communication, and personalised support, describing Shape House as a place where children feel safe, understood, and able to thrive.
our approach to support
our Impact
At Shape House, we believe progress looks different for every child and young person. We celebrate the small steps as well as the big achievements, and we’re proud of the positive impact we see every day.
Attendance – 90% Average Attendance
At Shape House, we support children and young people who may have found it difficult to attend school. This can often be linked to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), as well as autism; social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs; anxiety, and attachment.
We understand that returning to a setting can feel overwhelming. That’s why we focus first on helping each child or young person feel safe, calm, and ready—at their own pace.
Through our nurturing environment, low-arousal approach, and personalised support, children and young people begin to feel more comfortable coming in each day. As trust builds, attendance naturally improves.
We are incredibly proud that children and young people at Shape House achieve an average attendance rate of over 90%, reflecting the confidence and sense of security they develop with us.
Wellbeing & Engagement – 4/5
When a child or young person first joins Shape House, we provide daily updates to help families, schools and commissioners understand how they are settling in. These reports include a focus on wellbeing and engagement, so you can see the small but important steps they are making each day.
Our approach is centred on Presence, Participation, and Progress. For many of the children and young people we support—especially those with autism, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, anxiety, and attachment needs—just coming into a setting can feel like a huge challenge.
We take time to build trust and help each child feel safe, understood, and comfortable. As confidence grows, we support them to connect with others, take part in activities, and begin to enjoy learning again.
We measure wellbeing and engagement using a simple 1–5 scale (based on the Leuven Scale):
- 1 – Feeling worried, unsettled, or not ready to join in
- 5 – Feeling confident, happy, and fully involved
We love seeing children and young people at Shape House becoming more settled, engaged, and positive about their experiences, with average scores of 4 out of 5.
What parents say...
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Curriculum
We deliver a broad and balanced practical, outdoor, and creative curriculum that promotes Good Physical and Mental Health, Relationship Building, Emotional Wellbeing, Understanding Self, A Sense of Community, Independence, Life skills, and awareness of the World of Work.
Environment
Our biophilic setting creates an environment that engages the senses and fosters a deep connection to the outdoors. We have created a spacious, calming environment that supports the low-arousal approach to learning.
Team
All our staff have a vast experience of working with SEND children and young people, delivering outstanding provision and supporting children and young people to achieve aspirational outcomes. Our Centre Leads, Jamie and Chris hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Local Authority Frameworks
Therapeutic Forest Approved Practitioner
Shape House Doncaster is proud to be an approved member of The Therapeutic Forest Approved Practitioner Network. This recognition enables us to deliver the Therapeutic Forest School Experience, providing meaningful outdoor learning and wellbeing opportunities in a supportive environment.
Our Centre Lead, Jamie Christian, has successfully completed the Certificate in Therapeutic Skills for Outdoor Leaders, equipping him with specialist knowledge and skills to support therapeutic outdoor practice.
To view the full list of approved practitioners, please visit The Therapeutic Forest Approved Practitioner Network:
Committed to Trauma-Informed Practice (Gold Level)
At Shape House Doncaster, we are proud to have achieved Gold Level Trauma-Informed Practice training through Thrive LDN, having successfully completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold training programmes.
This achievement reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a safe, supportive and understanding environment for everyone who engages with our services. Trauma-informed practice recognises that past experiences can have a significant impact on a person’s thoughts, feelings, behaviours and relationships, influencing how they experience and interact with the world around them.
Our training has strengthened our understanding of how to embed trauma-informed approaches into everything we do. This includes developing therapeutic skills that support reconnection, resilience and recovery, as well as exploring the role of creativity within trauma-informed practice.
We also consider how trauma-informed principles shape our organisation as a whole, ensuring that our policies, environments and ways of working promote safety, trust, choice, collaboration and empowerment. By understanding both the causes and effects of trauma, we can better support individuals on their journey towards wellbeing and positive change.
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Shape House TikTok
Check out some of our projects and activities on our TikTok Page.