Exploring Alternative Provision and EOTAS
with Mell Harrison and Heidi Mavir
A Webinar for Start-Up Schools and Learning Communities
7 May, 7.30-9.30pm BST
Are you thinking about setting up a learning community? Or perhaps you run or work at a provision already. Our next webinar will interest you if you’re planning to cater for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). You’ll have the opportunity to meet two experts with extensive experience in this area.
Whilst the content around the legalities of EOTAS and AP is specific to England, please feel free to join from wherever you are in the world, as there will no doubt be elements which are useful to all, and Mell and Heidi's stories of their own start-up organisations are sure to be inspiring wherever you are located.
About Our Experts
Mell Harrison
Mell has a fiery passion for non-hierarchical ways of creating community and has been specialising in nature based autonomous education for 30 years. She is the Vision Holder and Director for Kinda Education, a sociocratic, nature based, multi-generational, autonomous learning community in Suffolk, UK.
She has been working within Alternative Provision for many years, and set up Kinda Alternative, a 4-day a week (quality-assured, Ofsted registered) space for children needing time and space to feel safe and nurtured.
Plans are also in motion for the first Kinda Primary School. The community will welcome children who are emotionally avoiding school, young adults with additional needs, elders, early years and family support.
Heidi Mavir
Heidi is the author of 'Your Child Is Not Broken: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child Without Losing Your Marbles', and the founder of EOTAS Matters, which is a platform to help parents/carers whose children are struggling in mainstream school.
EOTAS Matters supports families through the process of obtaining an EOTAS package (which is a financial arrangement with the Local Authority funding 'Education Otherwise Than At School') through the EHCP system (Education Health and Care Plan) in England.
They do this by educating parents/carers and professionals, providing help, advice and training around Neurodivergence; Special Educational Needs and Disability; Education Law; Human Rights; and Equality.
Heidi is passionate about empowering families in their fight to secure suitable education for their young people. Through her work supporting families she aims to ensure that children no longer fall through the cracks, but rather are supported by knowledgeable, empowered adults who know how to get their voices heard.
Event Format, Recording and Ticket Price
This event takes place online via Zoom at 7.30-9.30pm BST on Wednesday 7th May. There will be a short presentation from each of our guests and then you are invited to ask any questions that you might have.
If you have questions but can't make the date, you are still welcome to register for the event. Simply send your questions through to us at [email protected] and they will get asked in the session on your behalf. The recording will be sent to all registered participants as soon as possible after the live event.
This webinar is £20 for non-members, and FREE for members.
Become a Member and Attend for Free!
Join Us!
Would you like to join the Education Start-Ups membership community? Our membership offers:
Monthly expert webinars (like this one);
Monthly group coaching for peer support and collaborative problem solving;
Online platform for sharing resources/ideas and supporting each other between sessions.
Some extra bonuses too!
We are currently running an EARLYBIRD OFFER (only £19 per month) for new members, which runs until 31st December 2024. You can find out more at EducationStartUps.org/community.
Note to Members
If you are a member, you do not need to register for this event. You will automatically receive the Zoom link in your online community portal.
About Us
This webinar series is brought to you by Jo Symes at Progressive Education and Alex O’Neill from Limitless. We are education activists who have a shared passion for raising awareness of alternatives to mainstream school.
For the past couple of years Alex and Jo have been creating events and resources for start-ups, in response to the growing number of children and young people leaving mainstream education, and the urgency that parents/carers/educators feel to build new learning environments where young people can thrive.
Introducing Alex O’Neill
Alex is the driving force behind Limitless, an organisation dedicated to igniting social change with a special emphasis on revolutionising the education sector.
Through the Limitless podcast, she shares expert insights and neuroscience tips to empower changemakers to tackle the world's most pressing issues.
Alex is committed to uniting individuals who are driven to advance education and supporting them in overcoming obstacles that stand in their way.
Introducing Jo Symes
Jo is the founder of the social enterprise, Progressive Education. Her website is an inspiration hub for exploring alternatives to conventional schooling and campaigns to bring about change. She is building a global directory of jobs, events and progressive schools and learning communities.
It began with the launch of the Progressive Education Group on Facebook in 2019, which is an international community of over 10k parents/carers, educators, academics, researchers, psychologists, education innovators, changemakers and young people.
