Alternative Provision

BF Adventure

Added on July 15, 2026

Approach: PLACE (Playfulness, Love, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy), Trauma informed

Provision type: Early Engagement / Re-engagement, Forest School, Vocational Learning

Needs and circumstances supported: Emotionally based school avoidance, Physical disability, SEMH, SEND

May be suitable for: Confidence and Wellbeing, Re-engagement with education

Age range: Primary (5-11 years), Secondary (11–16 years)

Activities & Interests: Catering / kitchen work, Gardening, Sport

Support and provision features: 1:1 learning, Low-arousal environment, Quiet space, Small group learning

How and when provision is delivered: Flexible attendance, Full day – approximately 5 hours, Half day – approximately 2–4 hours, One-off session

Qualifications and skills available: Catering / food safety qualification, Employability skills, Life skills / independent living, Vocational learning, Work experience

Accessibility & Inclusion: Supports Deaf / hard of hearing visitors, Supports blind / visually impaired visitors, Wheelchair access, Accessible toilet

Funding and referral routes: Charity-funded, Family Support Worker, Referral required, School referral, Self-referral - Subject to criteria being met, Social Worker

About BF Adventure

BF Adventure is a Cornwall-based charity providing trauma-informed outdoor alternative education and specialist support for children and young people who are struggling to access or engage with mainstream education. Through its Skills for Life programme, BF Adventure helps young people build confidence, resilience and practical life skills using the outdoors as a positive environment for learning and personal development.

Location

Provision is delivered from two specialist outdoor learning sites in Cornwall:

Goodygrane Activity Centre, near Penryn (West Cornwall)
Nine Ashes, near Bodmin (Mid Cornwall)

Having two locations enables BF Adventure to support families from across the county while reducing travel for many young people.

Every placement is tailored to the individual. Programmes are co-produced around each young person’s strengths, interests and needs, with support available through one-to-one, paired or small-group sessions. Learning takes place through carefully planned outdoor experiences that encourage communication, problem-solving, emotional regulation, independence and positive relationships.

Activities may include

climbing
paddlesports
bushcraft
archery
gardening
cooking
environmental projects
team challenges
woodland-based learning

Rather than focusing solely on academic achievement, the programme aims to help young people reconnect with learning, improve attendance, develop confidence and build the skills needed for future education, employment and everyday life.

Trauma informed approach

BF Adventure’s approach combines outdoor education, youth work and trauma-informed practice. Each young person is supported by trusted adults who build consistent relationships and use approaches such as attunement, co-regulation and the PLACE principles (Playfulness, Love, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy) to help children feel safe, understood and able to succeed.

Support

is available for many children and young people experiencing barriers to education, including those with SEND, social, emotional and mental health needs, anxiety, adverse childhood experiences or other circumstances affecting engagement with school.

Referrals

can be made by schools, local authorities, professionals and, where appropriate, directly by parents, subject to funding and placement availability.