Havenswood Learning

Community

Welcome to the future - and to Havenswood Learning Community - a warm, inclusive education and support facility designed for neurodivergent children and situated within the community village. Here, learners who are struggling with the school environment can take time out to access specialist help and support. We’ll offer calm, nurturing environments where every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

A bright, spacious communal room with large windows, multiple seating areas including blue sofas, dining tables with chairs, individual study cubicles with green and wood accents, and a cozy tent with a bean bag chair in a corner. The room has a modern, minimalistic design with light wood flooring and ceiling with cloud-shaped lighting fixtures.
A group of young adults in a modern, bright lounge or study area with large windows, sitting and working on laptops, reading, or chatting.

Havenswood Learning Community will be a supportive education hub designed for neurodivergent learners without complex or severe learning disabilities, (those with Autism, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome and other related conditions) who are capable of studying at age-related levels and passing their GCSEs - but who need tailored learning environments and specialist teaching styles to succeed.

This group of children have been consistently overlooked and underserved, and consequently today, we are facing a huge crisis in our schools. We believe that education does not have to be confined to a traditional school environment, nor limited to a narrow focus on subjects such as maths, English and science. While we agree that academic learning is important, it is only one part of a much bigger picture. Our approach will value the needs of the individual child, with a strong emphasis on enrichment, social connection, wellbeing and preparing for the future, so that SEND children can grow into confident, capable and fulfilled adults - as well as achieve academically.

Traditional Teaching Methods

It is clear that for many children, particularly those with additional needs, the traditional British model of schooling no longer meets the realities of how children learn and thrive today. We are committed to re-imagining education in a way that is more flexible, inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of the children and young people we support.

Our Education Hub will offer a thoughtfully designed, three-tier approach. This will include additional learning support within a nurturing environment, access to alternative spaces where children can regulate and reset on a longer term basis when needed, and a dedicated provision for those who, despite best efforts, are unable to tolerate mainstream settings.

By responding to need rather than labels, this approach aims to open up fairer opportunities for children and families, while addressing a significant gap in local specialist and alternative education provision.
A young girl with long brown hair wearing purple and pink headphones, sitting at a wooden table, watching a laptop screen intently with her hands clasped under her chin.
Three children working on a robotics project with wires and electronic components at a table in a classroom or maker space.
Close-up of a young boy with blonde hair and blue eyes, looking at the camera near colored pencils, with two children and a woman smiling in the background.

‘NO’ to long journeys and out of area placements!

Many learners who live on the coast are forced to travel 30–50 miles both ways, daily to Thirsk, Ripon, or Harrogate to access schools with specialist facilities and an ambitious curriculum. This means aound 3 hours of travel daily on slow, country roads. For neurodivergent students, these long journeys are exhausting, disruptive, and for many, impossible. 

Instead of long, difficult journeys, Havenswood Village, will provide specialist support that will allow children and teens to remain in their own community. 

A woman and a boy working on a computer in a home office, with the woman pointing at the monitor, and both focused on the screen.
A classroom with students raising hands at their desks while a teacher stands at the front.
A young woman with curly black hair wearing glasses and a dark green shirt, sitting at a desk with a laptop, smiling and resting her chin on her hand, in a bright room.

Side by Side with Mainstream Education

Our learning community will be just that! A supportive community dedicated to individualised learning. It will not not be a school in the traditional sense of the word nor an alternative provision setting. Instead, we will operate as a specialist support provider, working alongside existing schools to help meet the needs of children who are struggling in mainstream environments. Our role is to complement, not replace, school provision.

We aim to offer tailored support to schools across Scarborough, focusing on children who may be experiencing barriers to learning due to anxiety, trauma, unmet additional needs, or difficulties coping within traditional classroom settings. By collaborating closely with schools, families, and professionals, we aim to provide flexible, compassionate support that helps children re-engage with learning, build confidence, and achieve better outcomes, while remaining connected to their school community.

PERMANENT PLACEMENTS

For a small number of children who, despite every reasonable adjustment and sustained support, are unable to thrive in mainstream settings, we will also offer longer-term or permanent placements within our learning community. These placements will provide a stable, nurturing environment where children can learn at their own pace, feel safe and understood, and develop the skills and confidence they need for the future.

(* All drawings and photos are representative of the spaces we want to create)