Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading opened in 2011 and provides therapeutic care and alternative education provision for young people ages 11-18 who have self-excluded from school. Our aims are to recover bullied and traumatised children and support vulnerable young people who face challenges around special educational needs and mental health issues which may leave them vulnerable to bullying. RB-Reading students come from a wide range of backgrounds, and the causes of their self-exclusions varies. At RB-Reading, most of our students have an Educational, Health and Care Plan and many are on Child Protection Plans or classified as children in need.

We are looking for a creative practitioner to support students and staff to create more inspirational places to learn and work within the centre. The programme will be based on a single enquiry which we will develop as a community that needs to solve a real world problem. The programme will tie into core subjects (English, Maths and Science) while also having links to PSHE, DT and Art, and focusing on developing soft skills around teamwork, critical thinking, questioning, divergent thinking and building resilience. The main outcome will be to support students in their readiness to learn.