Alternative Provision Offer

As an East Sussex County Council (ESCC), West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Brighton & Hove City Council (B&H CC) assured Alternative Provision, Aspire Farm School accepts referrals from both primary & secondary schools, Local Authorities & professional agencies which are categorised into the following tiers.


TIER 1

MAINSTREAM REFERRAL WITH NO EHCP:

Induction: 1 x 1 hour induction, 2:1 staff to student ratio.

Post successful induction, all future sessions are on a 1:1 basis, (minimum 1 session, maximum 4 sessions per week).

TIER 2

ADDITIONAL NEED REFERRAL (EHCP/ EOTAS/ SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL NEEDS):

Induction: 1 hour induction, 2:1 staff to student ratio.

Post successful induction, all future sessions are on a 1:1 basis, (minimum 1 session, maximum 4 sessions per week).

Curriculum

Our Farm School curriculum is designed to provide a meaningful, hands-on education where every day offers opportunities to build confidence, develop practical skills and experience success. Learning takes place across the whole farm, combining animal care, food production, outdoor learning, practical projects and accredited achievement.

Every student follows our core Farm School curriculum, with activities tailored to their interests, strengths and individual outcomes. Where appropriate, students can develop specialist skills in areas such as equine care, bushcraft, horticulture or practical trade skills, creating a personalised learning journey.

DISCOVER

Students immerse themselves in the daily life of the farm, developing confidence, responsibility and independence through real-life experiences.

Working alongside our staff, students take part in daily farm routines including feeding, grooming, health checks, mucking out and caring for a wide variety of animals.

MASTER

Knowledge becomes practical expertise through purposeful, structured learning.

Students refine their skills by applying what they have learned in authentic farm-based activities and projects. As their confidence grows, they work towards recognised AQA Unit Awards, celebrating individual achievement and providing evidence of progress.

MAKE

Food provides the perfect opportunity to develop independence and essential life skills.

Through weekly cooking sessions, students discover where food comes from, preparing fresh, seasonal ingredients into nutritious meals. They develop practical cooking techniques, food hygiene knowledge, planning skills and confidence in the kitchen while gaining a deeper understanding of healthy eating and sustainable food choices.

GROW

Students develop a deeper understanding of the natural world through growing, creating and exploring.

Working within our gardens and outdoor spaces, students grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, learn about sustainable food production and care for the environment through practical gardening projects. Nature-based learning is woven throughout, including bushcraft activities such as shelter building, fire-lighting, tool use, and foraging.

STEM

Creativity and curiosity come together through practical problem solving and innovation.

Students participate in weekly farm-based STEM challenges that encourage them to investigate, design, build and experiment. Activities develop critical thinking, creativity and collaboration while introducing practical engineering, construction and design concepts inspired by real-life challenges around the farm.

Referral process

We aim to complete this process within approximately 10 working days of receiving the referral but this can vary at key points throughout the year.

Referral

A referral pack can be downloaded from our website, completed and returned to director@aspirefarmschool.co.uk

Review

Incoming referrals are reviewed at panel each week and if appropriate, an induction session is then offered

Induction

A 1hr induction session is offered at one of our campuses to meet, assess need, tour the farm, ask and answer questions and determine if Aspire could be a suitable Alternative Provision placement

Placement

Post the successful induction session, a placement is offered and agreed with the referring agency, a service agreement is completed and a start date booked

A Tailored Approach

  • We pride ourselves in offering a provision that can be tailored to the requirements of the student, parent/carer & school
  • Placements can be arranged from a minimum of 1 session per week to a maximum of 4 sessions per week
  • For most school placements, a placement is agreed for 1 term which can be extended for a further term if reviewed to be best meeting the student’s current needs
  • For interim placements, EOTAS packages and some special circumstances, placements may be agreed for a longer time period
  • Schools and professional networks are provided with a high quality, weekly report for each student.
  • Transition packs are available for all schools to support the students transition back into the classroom
  • We take every opportunity to complete AQA unit awards with our students to highlight and celebrate their success

Availability

Monday - Friday, Term time only,

AM sessions 9am - 11:45am

PM sessions 12:15 - 3pm

Our Partners

Our experience with Aspire Farm School has been nothing short of life-changing for our son and our family.

Parent

He has gone from being a sad little boy to a child who absolutely beams with happiness.

Parent

One of his proudest achievements was showing a sheep at a show. These experiences have given him confidence and memories that will stay with him forever.

Parent

Your 1:1 approach, flexibility and carefully pitched challenge helped him develop into a young man who is ready for the next step after Year 11.

Brighton & Hove Aldridge Academy

You gave him a positive educational experience where he had previously only encountered barriers.

Brighton & Hove Aldridge Academy

Communication was fantastic, with excellent safeguarding, professionalism and detailed reporting.

Brighton & Hove Aldridge Academy

The support and communication provided by staff has been exceptional.

Warden Park Primary Academy

Weekly reports are detailed, clearly linked to the curriculum and demonstrate progress across many areas.

Warden Park Primary Academy

The environment is warm, supportive yet appropriately challenging, encouraging children to embrace new experiences.

Warden Park Primary Academy

The children absolutely love attending the farm. It is the highlight of their week.

Warden Park Primary Academy

The provision made school more manageable. Students returned more focused, more engaged and immensely proud of their achievements.

Eastbourne Academy

Aspire Farm School offered our son acceptance, belonging and celebration exactly as he is.

Parent, July 2026

Aspire Farm School offered our son acceptance, belonging and celebration exactly as he is.

Parent, July 2026

The staff are incredibly skilled at recognising when a child needs time and predictability, and when they are ready for challenge and growth.

Parent, July 2026

I trust Aspire Farm School implicitly. Their approach is curious, compassionate and unwaveringly caring.

Parent, July 2026

This beautiful community has truly been a lifeline for our family.

Parent, July 2026

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