Kyle joined Esland Online School following a long period out of education. He is a young man who is incredibly bright and resilient, with a lot of potential, but he struggled to access consistent day schooling due to a complex set of circumstances.

His young life was marked by constant disruptions during his early education, including a Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) diagnosis, intermittent care placements, a family breakdown and absences during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

These experiences had understandably contributed to attachment issues, difficulties with change, and a heightened need for trust, routine, and consistency.

A tailored learning plan

When Kyle joined our online school, we tailored his learning plan around his individual needs and preferences. We set him up with a laptop and provided him with all the necessary access details to join his online classes. We also took his parents through the platform, routines and structures we'd be working on so they understood precisely what Kyle would be experiencing during his education with us.

Kyle's program was created with a focus on his well-being, taking into account both his emotional and educational needs. It was developed with input from experts, including our in-house therapists, to make sure it supported him in the best way possible. Recognising his challenges with transitions and unfamiliar faces, we assigned him a single dedicated tutor, Wendy, to provide familiarity and emotional safety.

His daily schedule was carefully crafted, starting with a gradual check-in each morning before structured sessions in core subjects such as maths, English, and PSHE. Breaks and lunchtimes were designed to be flexible, supporting his concentration and reducing stress. A key part of the day also included time working towards a Food Hygiene Certificate, tapping into Kyle's passion for baking.

Developing an understanding

Wendy used PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) informed strategies and trauma-aware approaches to create a calm, nurturing online learning environment for Kyle. She also spent time understanding Kyle's FAS (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome) diagnosis in more detail so that she could better support his cognition, memory retention, and emotional regulation.

As a school, we sought regular communication with external professionals, such as his social workers, to ensure Kyle's learning journey fully aligned with his wider safeguarding and care plans.

Kyle's educational baseline was established through BKSB (Basic Key Skills Builder) assessments, placing him at Entry Level 3 for English and working towards Level 1 in maths. Despite challenges with memory retention, Kyle demonstrated strong comprehension and an eagerness to learn. His intellectual ability, curiosity, and sense of humour all shone through, and he developed a strong rapport with Wendy, which helped boost his motivation and engagement.

After a while, Kyle decided he'd like to work towards a maths GCSE, a clear sign of his newfound confidence and independence. While he occasionally found it difficult to write things down, he was able to express detailed answers verbally and demonstrated a clear understanding of foundational topics.

Baking a bright future

As we mentioned earlier, one of Kyle's greatest passions is baking. So much so that he's even created a Facebook page to showcase and sell his cakes. We've worked with him to nurture his entrepreneurial spirit within his learning plan by including his food hygiene training. This has helped to raise his aspirations even further, with plans underway to support a pop-up baking stall.

Throughout Kyle's time with us, we've continued to adapt our approach to meet his needs, helping to re-establish a sense of routine and purpose. Kyle has transformed from being completely disengaged with his education to actively participating. He now freely expresses his creativity and regularly looks ahead to the future with positivity and excitement.

After 5 months of therapeutic support and education at Esland Online School, Kyle is now ready to transition to a new specialist school setting in September. This next step is being carefully planned to ensure he feels safe, informed, and supported throughout the change.

His journey is a powerful example of how therapeutic, consistent, and flexible online education can help re-engage young people who have previously been out of school. Kyle’s story reflects not just academic progress but also personal growth, emotional development, and a renewed sense of possibility.

"He is a fantastic boy with a great sense of humour and has always worked well with me. This type of education has helped him and can really help children like him who have been missing in education, to give them an opportunity to learn when previously they felt unable to. This is definitely about making children's lives better, and we've helped make changes in his life for the better."

A quote from Kyle's tutor, Wendy

 

*We have changed the name to protect the young person’s identity.