TAO Activities is an alternative provision that is child centred, we use outdoor education as
our main tool of delivery but are not restricted by this. We focus heavily on the social and
emotional development of young people, using nurture group principles, attachment theory, mental wellbeing and SEAL.
We provide a four phased intervention to help meet learners’ needs:
Phase one: Building rapport
We develop very strong relationships with all our young people, parents and families. We
see this as key to help meet whatever objectives need to be met, to provide boundaries and
to progress the young people.
Phase two: Activities
In this phase we give the young person the opportunity to try three different activities, this
could be climbing, canoeing, and walking. It could equally be sculpting, mechanics, and
walking. This phase is centred around the young persons’ needs, aspirations, and interests.
It is also designed to help push their comfort zones slightly.
Phase three: Specialisms
In this phase the young person picks one activity, they then stay with this activity and
become a specialist in it, gaining awards and accreditations. For example, if they choose climbing we will provide opportunities for them to; gain NICAS awards, NGB training if
appropriate, the opportunity to lead climb, and ensure that all the other accreditation is
centred around this activity. e.g. the Rescue and Emergency Care (REC) First Aid will have
assessment scenarios built around climbing.
This phase is designed to really push comfort zones, and push for emotional responses, as
well as strategies to help the young person self-regulate.
Phase four: Reintegration
This phase is personal to the young person and prospective future establishment. It may
include a bridging project (a work project they start with us but finish in the future
establishment), it may include supported visits to the establishment, it may include a key
worker meeting us and being a part of a session, equally it could just be a meeting to share
information.