Alternative Provision for Schools, Professionals & Local Authorities
Individualised, Needs-Led Placements in Greater Manchester
A Therapeutic Outdoor Space in Dane Bank, Denton, Tameside
At The Wild Mane Project, we do not expect children and young people to fit into a pre-designed programme. Instead, we start by looking at the specific educational, social, and emotional needs of the child and build our alternative provision entirely around them. Every professional referral is considered individually. Following an initial consultation and assessment, we identify the most appropriate pathway, including EBSA (Emotionally Based School Avoidance) intervention and EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At School) arrangements. We then offer available session times that best meet the young person's developmental goals.
Why We Do Things Differently
Child-Led Provission
A Therapeutic Outdoor Space
At the heart of everything we do is the gentle, grounding connection between the child, our resident pony herd, and the natural rhythms of our woodland environment. By stepping away from classroom demands and into this calm, pressure-free Denton space, each child is met exactly where they are, giving them the time and room they need to feel safe, heard, and understood. Working softly alongside our horses and engaging in hands-on wilderness tasks allows us to support their individual sensory needs, reduce school-related anxiety, and gently rebuild self-esteem. It is a slow, deeply respectful approach to alternative provision that honors the unique journey of each young person, providing sustainable, trauma-informed support for families, schools, and social care across Tameside, Stockport, and Greater Manchester.
AP & EOTAS Funded Placements in Denton
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Flexible Funding Pathways: While we do not run traditional school lessons, our sessions are fully eligible for Alternative Provision (AP) budgets, EOTAS, and EHCP personal allocations.
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True Matching, Not Forced Grouping: We offer 1:1 intensive support or match young people into tiny, carefully selected groups based on age and sensory needs.
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Serving Our Local Borders: Located at our site in Denton, we actively support families across Tameside, Stockport (including Reddish Vale Country Park), and Manchester.
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Our Core Framework: The Tangled Web
The Tangled Web represents the delicate, interconnected balance of a young person's Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Within this model, four core pillars dictate a child's internal stability: Emotional Intelligence, Self-Esteem, Behaviour, and Learning.
Traditional educational institutions often pull a young person too far in one single direction, typically demanding rigid Learning and performance metrics. When the web is pulled too tightly toward academic demands, the child's Emotional Intelligence and nervous system regulation suffer. Conversely, if a system focuses superficially on Self-Esteem without building authentic internal capabilities, a child's outward Behaviour can destabilize.
If the web is pulled too far or too fast in any single direction, it breaks. This breakage often manifests as acute anxiety, complete school refusal (EBSA), or emotional shutdown.
Suitable For
We welcome a wide range of children and teenagers who need a different space to feel safe and flourish. Our child-centered, nature-rooted approach is highly effective for young people who are navigating complex challenges and require a supportive environment outside the classroom.
We can support children and teens experiencing:
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Sensory Needs and Neurodivergent Burnout: Young people requiring a low-demand space that respects their sensory processing and unique way of experiencing the world.
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Undiagnosed and Emerging Needs: Children who are currently waiting for assessments but require immediate, understanding support without needing a label first.
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Emotional Dysregulation and High Anxiety: Young people who are overwhelmed by their emotions and find comfort in the calm, steady presence of the ponies and woodland.
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Risk of Educational Exclusion: Students who are struggling to cope within traditional structures and need a gentle, positive circuit-breaker to rebuild confidence.
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Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA): Children facing intense school anxiety who find it difficult or impossible to attend a traditional classroom environment.
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Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Barriers: Teens and youth navigating complex internal landscapes who need an authentic sense of belonging and agency.
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Reduced Timetables: Students requiring a safe, non-judgmental space to engage purposefully while navigating a temporary or transitionary school timetable.
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Communication and Self-Esteem Challenges: Young people who find social interactions overwhelming and benefit from the non-verbal, non-judgmental relationship with our herd.
Ready to Initiate a Placement?
Whether you are a parent paying via a direct payment budget, a social worker organizing early help, or a SENCO looking for an innovative outdoor placement, you can access our system instantly.
Submit a secure request via our Online Referral Form, or chat with our team directly at admin@wildmane.org.uk to discuss how to apply.
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