Wild Learning Centre
Reimagining education
At the Wild Learning Centre, learning is alive, guided by curiosity, fuelled by creativity, and grounded in the natural world. Here, our skilled Learning Guides support young people who struggle to attend mainstream school, to design their own learning pathways, underpinned by foundation skills modules, workshops, collaborative projects, and self-directed learning.
We’re learning reimagined – not a replacement for school and not statutory education. We’re a place where autonomy is celebrated, passions are pursued, and learning flows across arts, science, engineering, maths, literacy, community, and play. We work alongside a young person’s education, not instead of it, stepping in to provide the time, space, and relational support when needed. It’s education, but not as you know it – bold, purposeful, nature-based, restorative – and uniquely theirs.
Beneath the surface of everyday lies careful planning and thoughtful design. But what you’ll notice first is the vibrant variety and autonomous learning: hammocks and books, skills sessions with a Learning Guide, personal projects, mentor one-to-ones, peer-led workshops, circles where learners shape community decisions, collaboration, community, and fun.
Learner experience & pathways
We value emotional intelligence and restorative practices just as much as academic progress. Learners are supported in every aspect of their growth, with additional emotional support available from their Learning Guides and team when needed.
Working with the extraordinary team at LearnLife in Barcelona, wider progressive education networks, and our own teams strengths and experience, we have designed a unique, competency-based integrative learning experience across our 5 domains:
- Learning to Be
- Learning to Think
- Learning to Learn
- Learning to Create
- Learning to Connect
These encompass 16 competencies, helping learners develop their learner portfolios across emotional literacy, civic and social responsibilities, science, technology, engineering, creative arts, maths, literacy, and sustainability. Our learning pathways loosely align with mainstream key stages 1 to 4, to purposefully support flexi-schooling and young people hoping to re-engage in mainstream in the future.
Our pedagogy is transdisciplinary, rooted in nature, and enables learners to lead, discover, and follow their passions, fostering a deeper understanding of the world and preparing them to embrace life’s opportunities.
We welcome flexi-schooled young people and those forced into home education, looking for a part-time, nature-based, learner-led environment to complement their other learning. We also support learners with Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) or Education Otherwise Than At School (EOTAS) pathways, where we are able to meet their needs.
The Wild Learning Centre currently offers two days of learning each week. We welcome learners aged 6–12, and are committed to growing alongside them, offering education up to age 16.
To ensure smooth transitions, our oldest intake will be 14 years old by 2028. This gives learners time to de-school, immerse themselves in our community, and develop the skills and mindset they need to pursue their chosen qualification pathway, whether that’s portfolio-based Crossfields Institute Integrative Education qualifications or vocational training, alongside maths and English IGCSEs or functional skills qualifications.
Accessibility & funding
Social equity is at the heart of our community, and we believe no family should face barriers to helping their child to thrive. We actively work to secure funding through grants and charitable foundations to offer at least 70% of our places free of charge for young people who are struggling with their emotional wellbeing, have no other support available, and who will thrive at the Learning Centre.
As an Alternative Provision framework supplier to Surrey County Council we also accept a small number of referrals for young people with EHCP or EOTAS funding, where we can meet their needs, and where their place is commissioned and funded as part of their statutory entitlement to education.
Please contact us
If you’re interested in learning more, we’d love to hear from you! info@huckleberries.org.uk