Pebbles Education provides education for young people aged 9-18, including those living in Pebbles Care homes and those who attend on a day placement basis. We welcome referrals from a wide range of partners, including local authorities, social work teams, schools, other care providers and health services, ensuring that young people from diverse circumstances can access a safe, nurturing and highly personalised education.
Many of our learners have experienced disrupted or reduced engagement in previous settings and require a therapeutic, relationship-centred and flexible approach to re-establish trust in learning. Our trauma-informed environment, small class sizes and personalised pathways enable young people to rebuild confidence at a pace that feels safe and achievable.
Young People in Pebbles Care Services
Education is provided for young people living in our Pebbles residential homes as part of their wider care plan. This offers local authorities a reliable, high-quality education solution that ensures continuity, compliance and access to an established, registered school with qualified staff experienced in trauma-informed and therapeutic practice.
Day Placements
We offer placements for day pupils. Referrals are welcomed from other care providers and from Scottish and English local authorities seeking a specialist, bespoke learning environment for young people who have been unable to engage with mainstream school, inclusion hubs, alternative provision or other independent special schools.
16+ Programme & Extended Pathways
For older learners, this programme supports independence and positive destinations. It can include a Young Drivers Programme, work experience or volunteering, enhanced therapeutic support, life skills lessons, employability and steps to work courses, careers guidance, school–college partnerships, further education or training options and budgeting skills.
Pebbles Education is open to all young people who would benefit from a nurturing, skilled and therapeutic approach to education, providing stability, connection and a pathway towards positive futures.
We carefully review each referral to ensure we can meet the young person’s educational, therapeutic and wider support needs. This process includes gathering information from referring stakeholders, previous education providers, parents/carers and multi-agency professionals wherever possible.
Scotland Excel Framework
Pebbles Care is an approved provider on the Scotland Excel Framework for Children’s Residential Services. Local authorities can access our education provision and associated services directly through the framework, where full details of our registration, provision and commissioning arrangements can be found.
Our Adapt Learning Model is designed to support re-engagement and sustained participation in education. As part of the admissions process, each young person completes a ‘My Voice’ profile, enabling them to express their needs, aspirations, interests and any fears or barriers to learning. This helps us shape a highly individualised re-engagement plan.
For some young people, a phased transition is appropriate. This may involve part-time engagement, initially through home visits, relationship building, or therapeutic sessions- based on their needs. As confidence and engagement increase, young people typically progress to a full-time Adapt Learning programme within two to four weeks.
Positive transitions are a central part of our ethos. Our aim is to support young people to move confidently towards independence, further learning or a suitable next placement. Many of our pupils move on due to wider care needs and we ensure each transition is handled with dignity, preparation and professional collaboration.
For more information on our fees or to discuss commissioning arrangements, please contact the Pebbles Care Referrals Department, who will be happy to provide guidance and support with the process.
