Who is EmpowerEd North for?
EmpowerEd North is for young people with autism, severe learning disabilities, complex SEND, communication needs, sensory needs, anxiety, dysregulation or placement breakdown who may need highly individualised support.
FAQ
Common questions.
A short guide for families, schools, local authorities and professionals considering EmpowerEd North.
Is EmpowerEd North a school?
No. EmpowerEd North is developing as a specialist part-time alternative provision. It does not offer full-time education at this stage. We work as part of a wider plan agreed with the family, school, local authority or other commissioner.
How long is a placement?
The current starting offer is a 12-week initial placement with a formal 6-week review. Longer-term part-time placements may be agreed where a learner needs more time to build relationships, routine and readiness, subject to review and written agreement.
Do you work with schools and local authorities?
Yes. EmpowerEd North can work with schools, colleges, local authorities and other professionals as part of a wider education package. We share updates, review progress and help adults around the learner understand what is working.
Do you provide clinical assessment or therapy?
No. EmpowerEd North does not provide clinical assessment, diagnostic assessment or therapy. We are happy to work alongside external clinicians and professionals where this supports the learner's needs.
Can you support community access?
Where appropriate and carefully planned, support may include graded community learning, sharing space with others, accessing social or leisure opportunities, building independence and preparing for appointments or transitions.
Can you help with transition to another provider?
Yes, where this is part of the agreed plan. EmpowerEd North can support bespoke transition by building trust with the learner, working with the accepting provider, planning graded steps, preparing visual supports or social stories, sharing strategies and modelling approaches.
How are placements funded?
Funding is discussed case by case. Placements may be discussed with a school, local authority, college or other commissioner. Each proposal is individually costed according to the learner's needs, hours, staffing, location and review requirements.
How can people trust a new provision?
EmpowerEd North is new as an organisation, but it is led by Janice March, an experienced SEND practitioner with over 20 years' experience in autism, severe learning disabilities, complex communication needs, safeguarding, curriculum design and specialist provision. Janice has worked across mainstream, specialist and further education settings, and her previous work includes autism provision recognised by the National Autistic Society with an Inspirational Education Award in 2016.
What might a session include?
A session might include communication work, sensory regulation, life skills, practical learning, community access, independence, PSHE, functional English or maths, or preparation for a transition. The starting point depends on what the learner can manage.
What if my young person cannot access the community yet?
That is understood. For some learners, the first step is simply tolerating another person's presence, sharing space, communicating a need or building enough trust to leave the house or enter a familiar place. Community access can be built gradually.
Not sure where to start?
A short email is enough. Tell us a little about the young person, what is difficult at the moment and what kind of support you are hoping for.