What we offer

We offer full-time, term-based provision, either in-person at Centres or blended online and in-person at Red Balloon of the Air. Our approach puts wellbeing at the core of our students’ education experience, with a strong emphasis on mental health, personal development and positive social interaction alongside academic teaching.

We are not a normal school

At Red Balloon, we focus on wellbeing, education and social engagement to ensure our students are gaining the skills and confidence they need to reintegrate with their peers.

Our tailored approach means we can meet students’ individual needs to help them reach their goals, be it academic or personal progress.

An integrated approach

The strength of our programme is its holistic approach. Our highly qualified and experienced staff provide wellbeing and therapy to support students’ mental health and to help them re-engage with the wider world. We’re firm believers in social and emotional learning: all staff are interested in and actively involved in the wellbeing of all students, and mental health support and personal development are an integral part of the entire day, not just restricted to designated sessions.

Tailored learning

Our students follow an individualised timetable of lessons, alongside our effective and carefully planned wellbeing curriculum. Lessons are in small groups, and with qualified teachers, who plan individualised teaching to suit the needs and interests of each child. As the relationships with their teachers develop, students become more confident and resilient learners and build the skills they need to successfully return to education, work or further training.

We provide academic teaching from Entry Level to GCSE in subjects of students’ interest or which are helpful to them in their future plans and offer our students PSHEE and Careers Guidance.

Small class sizes

Our supportive learning sessions have from one to six students. New students often begin with one-to-one lessons. As they grow in confidence and they are willing and able to interact with their peers, they will join group sessions.

A safe, positive environment

We know returning to a school is a source of anxiety for our students, so our Centres are purposefully based in houses so that they do not feel like traditional schools. We want our students to feel comfortable and safe when with us, so we strive to make our Centres as homely as possible. We have a casual dress code, staff are called by their first names and at our physical Centres, the student and staff family sit down together to lunch each day.

Students hold an absolute right to be treated with respect and care, and that right is not contingent upon their behaviour or the quality of their academic performance. Each member of our Centre family agrees to our policy of unconditional positive regard – every member of the community (staff or student) should always treat others with respect and dignity, regardless of the situation.

Transition support

Each student has regular sessions with a Link Mentor (at RBAir) or a Transition Lead (at physical Centres). These are the key people who link together our academic, personal and social development programmes and liaise with commissioners. Our Link Mentors and Transitions Lead guide our students throughout their time with us, from their first steps to helping them move on to the next stage of their learning and lives.

Registered exam Centres

We know that some young people miss out on gaining qualifications because they can’t go to school to sit their exams. All our Centres are also registered exam centres, where students can sit their exams in a safe, comfortable and familiar environment.

A blend of online and in-person sessions (RBAir only)

Not all of our young people feel comfortable leaving the house when they first join us and some have struggled to successfully learn in face-to-face environments for various reasons. Our blended online and in-person provision Red Balloon of the Air provides the Red Balloon programme to those young people who need extra support or can’t attend in-person. RBAir provides sessions online or in-person, depending on each student’s needs, helping them progress towards attending student hubs as they feel comfortable to do so.

Our three components

Read more about the three components of our provision on the pages below.

Our Centres

Physical Centres (Cambridge, Reading, Norfolk, Norwich, NWLondon and Worthing)

We have five physical Centres based in houses. Students attend each day at the Centre, where lunch is provided, and follow a personalised timetable of lessons (including PSHEE, careers and PE) and counselling/therapy. As with a normal school there are trips, extracurricular activities and social events throughout the year. Find out more about each of our physical Centres on their Centre pages.

Online Centre (Red Balloon of the Air)

We have an online Centre, RBAir, which provides a blended online and face-to-face provision. Students are provided with a laptop to access online sessions, and log on at the relevant times each day to undertake real-time sessions with a dedicated teacher or therapist. In addition, social and learning activities take place face-to-face where students can travel in to dedicated student hubs to meet other RBAir students and take part in lessons and activities. Find out more about RBAir and our other Centres on our Centre pages.