Welcome to Pebbles Connect.
As Head of Education, I’m proud to introduce a provision that has been designed with a clear purpose- to re-engage young people with learning, rebuild confidence and open meaningful pathways for the future.
Pebbles Connect is our online school, created to support young people who may not thrive in traditional educational settings. Many of the learners we work with have experienced disruption, trauma or barriers that have impacted their relationship with education. Our role is to change that narrative.
Through a carefully designed digital environment, we provide a flexible, personalised curriculum that balances academic learning with vocational opportunities, wellbeing support and preparation for life beyond school. Our approach is rooted in strong relationships, high expectations and a deep understanding of each young person’s individual context.
What makes Pebbles Connect different is not just that it is online, it is how we use that space. We combine live teaching, structured learning pathways and consistent pastoral support to create a safe, engaging and purposeful learning experience. Our staff are skilled in both pedagogy and trauma-informed practice, ensuring that young people feel supported as well as challenged.
We work closely with local authorities, carers and families to ensure that every learner has a clear plan, a sense of belonging and a pathway towards positive destinations- whether that is re-engaging with school, further education, employment or training.
Pebbles Connect is more than an online school. It is a bridge back into education, towards independence and into a more positive future.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our work.
Glenn Gibson
Head of Education
Pebbles Connect is a fully online school, designed to provide a stable, consistent and high-quality education for young people who are unable to access a traditional school environment.
Through live, interactive lessons delivered via Microsoft Teams, learners engage in structured virtual classrooms that promote routine, connection and a sense of belonging. Our model ensures that education remains accessible without compromising on quality or expectations.
All teaching is delivered by qualified, registered teachers who are trained in trauma-informed and relational practice. This allows us to create learning environments where young people feel safe, understood and ready to engage.
At the heart of Pebbles Connect is a bespoke and individualised approach. Every learner has a personalised timetable and learning plan, designed around their current level of readiness, prior attainment and future aspirations. We assess baseline abilities carefully and use this to build targeted pathways that support both re-engagement and progression.
Our curriculum is flexible, responsive and carefully paced. We prioritise emotional safety, regulation, and confidence-building, recognising that meaningful academic progress happens when young people feel secure and supported. Alongside this, we provide clear routes towards certification and accreditation, ensuring that learners can achieve recognised outcomes.
We also work as part of a wider, integrated support network. This includes access to our in-house Psychology Service, enabling alignment between education, therapeutic support and individual need.
Pebbles Connect is focused not only on re-engagement, but on forward progression. We support young people to move towards positive destinations, including further education, training and employment. Where appropriate, we also plan and support reintegration back into onsite educational settings.
Our school is built on a simple principle- meet young people where they are and support them to move forward with confidence.
At Pebbles Connect, our curriculum is designed to be broad, balanced and inclusive, meeting the needs of young people who may have experienced disrupted education, trauma or barriers to engagement. It is built not only to support academic progress, but to develop confidence, independence and clear pathways into positive post school destinations.
We offer flexible and responsive learning pathways, including full-time, part-time and blended provision. This allows us to support pupils at different stages whether they require short-term re-engagement, targeted intervention or longer-term placement. Our online model ensures that learners can access education when and where they need it, while remaining connected to a supportive school community.
Structure and Delivery
Our curriculum is organised around four key areas:
Academic Learning
Vocational Development
Therapeutic Activities
Career and Independence Readiness
This structure ensures a holistic approach, supporting both attainment and personal growth. Teaching is delivered through a structured and flexible timetable using Microsoft Teams, combining live lessons, small group work, 1:1 support and independent study.
The curriculum aligns with Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 expectations, covering core subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science, alongside a wider offer including PSHE, Humanities and Creativity. Learning is carefully sequenced to build knowledge and skills over time, while remaining responsive to individual progress and need.
Each pupil is supported by a key teacher, providing consistency, regular check-ins and a strong relational foundation. Personalised timetables ensure that learning is appropriately paced, accessible and challenging.
Digital literacy is a fundamental component of the Pebbles Connect curriculum and underpins all aspects of teaching and learning. As all learning is delivered online, pupils are supported to develop the essential knowledge, skills and confidence required to access digital platforms safely, effectively and independently. This includes understanding how to use devices, navigate online learning environments such as Microsoft Teams, access and submit work, and communicate appropriately in virtual classrooms. Digital literacy is not taught in isolation, but is embedded across all subject areas to ensure pupils can fully engage with their learning and develop skills that are transferable beyond the classroom.
Recognising that pupils join Pebbles Connect with varying levels of digital experience, we provide targeted support to ensure all learners can successfully access the curriculum. This includes initial assessments of digital competence, structured induction sessions, and ongoing guidance from staff to build confidence in using technology. Pupils are also taught key aspects of online safety, including responsible use of the internet, digital communication, and safeguarding awareness. Through this approach, Pebbles Connect aims to remove barriers to learning, promote independence, and equip pupils with the digital skills necessary for future education, employment, and everyday life.
Technology is at the heart of Pebbles Connect, enabling us to deliver high-quality education in a way that is accessible, safe and consistent for every learner.
Every pupil is provided with their own dedicated laptop, ensuring they have the tools they need to fully engage in learning from day one. Devices are set up and managed by our team, allowing pupils to access lessons quickly and easily without unnecessary barriers.
Learning is delivered through a secure and user-friendly digital platform, giving pupils straightforward access to live lessons, resources and support. Our systems are designed to promote routine and independence, while remaining flexible enough to meet individual needs.
Safeguarding is a central priority in our online environment. We have robust systems in place to ensure that pupils are safe and always supported when learning online. This includes secure access to platforms, clear expectations for online conduct and continuous staff oversight during live sessions.
We also use technology to monitor engagement, progress and wellbeing. Attendance, participation and learning activity are tracked in real time, allowing staff to respond quickly and provide targeted support where needed. This ensures that no pupil becomes disconnected from their learning.
Our approach to technology is simple- remove barriers, maintain safety and create an environment where every young person can access learning with confidence.
Our provision is centred around a Therapeutic Parenting model, where every interaction is rooted in understanding, safety and connection. Staff are extensively trained to recognise the impact of trauma and attachment on a young person’s development, and to respond with consistency, empathy and attuned communication.
We view behaviour as a form of communication. Rather than focusing on managing or containing behaviours, our staff work to understand the underlying needs being expressed. This approach supports effective safeguarding, reduces crisis responses and creates an environment where young people feel safe to regulate, reflect and build positive relationships.
Therapeutic approaches are embedded across learning and care: from day-to-day interactions to curriculum planning and targeted interventions. Depending on individual needs, this may include counselling, CBT-based strategies, creative and sensory therapies, outdoor learning, or relational mentoring. Our in-house Psychology team can provide additional support, guidance and clinical oversight to ensure approaches are appropriate and trauma-informed.
Therapeutic practice is not an add-on at Pebbles, it is the foundation of our entire model. By prioritising relationships and emotional safety, our therapeutic model enables young people to rebuild trust, develop confidence, engage more positively in learning and make meaningful progress academically, socially and emotionally.
All relevant school policies, procedures, and educational documentation are available here. These include safeguarding, admissions, curriculum, complaints and quality assurance information.
