Post-16 Alternative
Provision Offer
Our Mission
Serenity Pathways provides bespoke, therapeutic, and flexible alternative provision for post-16 learners. Many of our young people have experienced barriers to traditional education due to special educational needs (SEND), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) challenges, or extended periods of disengagement.
Our aim is to rebuild confidence, promote independence, and prepare each learner for adulthood through personalised education and holistic support.
What We Offer
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Functional Skills
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Health and Safety Training
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CSCS Card Application Support
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Employability Skills Development
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CV Writing
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Life Skills
Delivery of Sessions for Post-16 Learners at Serenity Pathways
At Serenity Pathways, sessions for post-16 learners are designed to be flexible, engaging,
and fully tailored to individual needs. Learning takes place through a mix of community-
based experiences and 1:1 structured support within our dedicated post-16 office space.
1:1 Sessions in the Post-16 Office
Learners receive focused, personalised support from specialist teachers and support
workers in a quiet, calm, and well-equipped environment.
These sessions are used for:
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Functional Skills learning (English and Maths)
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AQA Unit Award work
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Vocational preparation
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Life skills development.
The small-scale setting allows for a therapeutic and nurturing approach, where learning can
happen at the learner’s pace, with minimal distractions and consistent adult support.
Community-Based Sessions
To promote real-world learning and independence, many sessions are delivered out in the community, led by staff who are experienced in supporting learners outside of traditional
classrooms.
These may include:
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Travel training and personal safety
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Money management in real shopping environments
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Social and communication development in cafés or public spaces
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Accessing services (e.g. libraries, GP appointments, banks)
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Volunteering and work-based learning opportunities.
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This approach ensures learning is not only academic but also functional, applied, and
empowering — equipping learners with the confidence and experience needed for
adulthood.
Sessions are always risk-assessed, structured, and goal-driven, with the flexibility to adapt to
individual learner needs on the day.
At Serenity Pathways, we provide a bespoke and therapeutic alternative provision for post-
16 learners who require a flexible and supportive route back into education. Many of our
young people have experienced challenges within traditional educational settings, including
unmet special educational needs, social, emotional or mental health difficulties, or long
periods of disengagement.
Our provision is designed to rebuild confidence, nurture progress, and equip learners with
the practical, academic, and life skills they need to transition into adulthood with purpose
and resilience. We deliver Functional Skills qualifications in English and Maths (Level 1
and Level 2), alongside a wide range of AQA Unit Awards focused on life skills.
Functional Skills: Core Academic Achievement in a Real-Life Context
Functional Skills in English and Maths are embedded across our curriculum and taught in a
way that feels relevant, achievable, and directly linked to everyday life. These qualifications enable learners to:
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Access further education or apprenticeships
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Move towards employment or supported internships
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Develop the independence required for adult life.
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We start with baselining through formative assessment to identify each learner’s working
level and learning needs. These results inform a personalised education plan that targets
specific Functional Skills outcomes while aligning with the learner’s EHCP (where
applicable), aspirations, and wider support needs.
Learning is delivered through:
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Small group teaching and 1:1 tuition, allowing for differentiated support
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Real-world tasks, such as budgeting, job applications, or preparing meals
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Flexible timetables that accommodate each learner’s pace, interests, and
challenges.
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Progress is monitored regularly, and learners are entered for exams when they are confident
and ready to succeed.
AQA Unit Awards: Targeted Life Skills Learning
In addition to Functional Skills, Serenity Pathways offers access to over 400 AQA Unit
Awards focused on life skills.
These short, accredited units cover areas such as:
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Cooking and nutrition
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Budgeting and money management
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Personal safety and travel
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Communication and relationships
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Digital literacy and employability
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Each unit is handpicked by staff in consultation with the learner, ensuring the content is
purposeful and directly relevant to the learner’s development. These awards provide bite-
sized certification that builds confidence and creates a clear record of achievement, even
for those who may not yet be ready for full qualifications.
Specialist Staff and Holistic Support
Post-16 learners at Serenity Pathways are supported by a team of specialist teachers and
trained support workers who understand the complex needs of our cohort. Staff are
experienced in working with learners who have SEND, SEMH needs, or educational trauma,
and use a trauma-informed and person-centred approach to build trust and engagement.
Support is proactive, consistent, and tailored — ensuring that every learner is encouraged to
take ownership of their journey, while receiving the structure and care they need to succeed.
Preparing for the Future
Our curriculum and qualifications are designed not just to fill gaps, but to open doors.
Whether the next step is college, work, training, or supported living, we ensure that each
young person leaves us with:
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Recognised qualifications
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Practical life experience
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A stronger sense of identity and confidence
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The tools needed to navigate adult life successfully.
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At Serenity Pathways, we believe in meeting learners where they are — and guiding them
forward with compassion, purpose, and achievable, meaningful progress.