Parent Year 12 Student
“I have found Roots4learning a total lifeline for our son. I feel the approach to learning, relationships with people/adults represents the ‘other side’ of education, where relationships are vital and valued. Some (perhaps all) children need this very much to feel safe, heard and worthy. I can’t recommend it more highly.
I believe the knowledge the staff can have of the students, is very much linked to the scale of the setting and know it will be important to try to keep that aspect going forward. “
"I am so grateful that I can attend the small supportive environment that is Roots 4 Learning. I am so comfortable here. They understand my needs, they encourage me to develop my interests and expand my thinking. As well as providing low pressure peer interaction".
"Our son was one of the first children to enrol at Roots and can I honestly say it saved our lives! I randomly came across it randomly online and filled in our details and the timing of this was invaluable as our son was literally at a brick wall with attending school which just wasn’t working out for him at all and he was actually physically climbing out of the school gates. Their moto re going back to the roots and “if a flower isn’t flourishing change its environment not the child to make it grow’ and it could not be more true. .
"special mention to Rob as I didn’t name him personally but he deserves it.. The relationship he has with our son is amazing. He had a very personable approach and gets on the right level to achieve his true potential. He has realistic expectations and tailors his learning with an approach that engages and connects but also applies appropriate boundaries ".
"Roots has been a complete game changer for my son, ***, and us as a family on the whole. *** has SEMH and diagnosed ADHD and at his main stream school has not been able stay in any of his lessons, being sanctioned for internal and external truanting, having confrontations regarding his uniform and impulsive behaviours, he struggled so much that his psychiatrist has signed him off school, whilst recognising that *** benefits from the environment at Roots encouraged his continued attendance there."
"Seeing *** coming from an environment where he could not cope to being able to attend roots regularly (100%attendance ) and integrating himself fully in all that roots offers him, has been invaluable to us and allowed us to regain hope in visualising ***’s future. Not only do the staff show a deep understanding for his complexities but they have also been amazing at building a relationship with him, resulting in him seeing himself no longer as someone who can’t join in education, yet as someone who has unique strengths to offer.
"the staff at Roots have a firm understanding of *** in terms of his learning. They use creative approaches to engage him and have high aspirations of what he can achieve. They are also informed and offer a variety of options other than traditional GCSE routes to allow *** to see that he has a choice to continued access to education. This has been amazing as we were unaware of the variety of options and routes that are on offer."
"The environment they provide with amazing leadership and a group of dedicated staff, all on the same page with the children’s best interest in the foremost of their minds. They offer bespoke, personalised, caring, support, guidance and ideas /activities that are child led to their interests at their own level and take it at their own pace so that the child feels valued, appreciated, acknowledged and supported through their journey through good and bad but always with kindness and encouragement to make learning seem achievable again. Couldn’t be happier to have found them!!"
"The staff at Roots have created strong links with his mainstream school, which has been particularly helpful in re-strengthening the relationship between us as parents and his mainstream school. Since *** started his placement at Roots he has regained confidence and has been more active, taking up riding his brand new bike which had been in the shed since his birthday last summer and engaging more socially with his friends, some of which he has made at Roots.
*** feels safe at Roots, which is not an easy state for *** to reach by any means."
"Roots has been absolutely invaluable for our son as it offers this vital safe learning space for him to be around other young people. The friendly, caring staff provide exactly the low pressure environment that has allowed him to attend, while also providing a good standard of education. All of the staff at Roots do an amazing job to create an environment where he can be himself and he is growing in confidence at the same time as learning new skills. As well as working on his own projects he also participates in group activities and he really enjoys having in-depth discussions with his peers and members of staff. It has had a definite positive effect on his mental health."
"I felt so much relief the minute we walked through the door at Roots4learning. They understand my daughter and her needs. She is in an extremely safe pair of hands with staff that can work flexibly to ensure that she can thrive and meet her potential. Mainstream schools broke my daughter. The staff at Roots4learning are responsible for rebuilding her and for that I am eternally grateful. I trust them implicitly. They have the skills, knowledge and understanding and work in a trauma informed way, putting the mental health and wellbeing of my child first, and have created a safe space in order for her to grow."
I like going to roots because I’m actually included and can have normal conversations. I meet people who are more like me and the tutors are calm, nice people. I get small , interactive lessons where I can discuss what’s going on - that’s how I learn best - and I feel more able to ask questions when I need. I’m not made to feel stupid or slow and I feel I am actually learning and can remember what we’ve gone through. I’m doing much better on my tests and I’m going to be able to take GCSEs.
I can play all sorts of different games inside and outside . Everyone joins in most of the time . If someone is not included, Liz and Emma always make sure they’re ok and Liz and Emma change things around if that helps that person. Sometimes they’ve needed to do that for me when I’ve struggled with some of my social skills or anxiety.
If I’m not joining in because I need a break then I’m given time and space to reset and rest. It’s not like school where I’m being constantly pressurised into exhaustion all day every day.
Roots is a safe place for me , it’s like being part of a big family .
"My daughter started at Roots at the beginning of the summer term. She has made wonderful progress in the short time she has been there. My daughter is on the autistic spectrum and has diagnoses of situational mutism, anxiety and PTSD. Attending Roots has meant she is leaving the house and spending time apart from me which is a big step for her. Despite her situational mutism she is managing to speak to some peers and staff and is forming good relationships with them. My daughter is working towards an Art Award and is engaging with learning once more. She is happier and more confident in herself because of the interactions she has with peers and staff. "
"My daughter’s needs are complex and have led to her being unable to attend school for many years. The staff at Roots are skilled at meeting her needs and also in enabling her to move forwards. I think their trauma-informed practice has been key in supporting my daughter who has had previous difficult experiences in school. As parents we are confident that the teaching and support at Roots will enable her to make the academic progress she is capable of, whilst having her social and emotional needs met. "
"This time last year, *** was very distressed, struggling to cope with his emotions, unable to express or regulate them. He was refusing to go to school and running away when we tried to get him there in a true ‘fight or flight’ state. He started to shut down and we felt we were becoming disconnected from him. Family life became very difficult. Removing the stress of conventional school and tailoring home life and learning to *** needs made a huge difference but he really came into his own when he started at Roots. This is his happy place and he is definitely better in himself on the days that he attends."
"Thank you for all the hard work you are putting into helping these young people and thank you for appreciating *** for who he is. I have no doubt that his well-being is your top priority and I know that he is safe and happy whilst he is with you.
We only wish he could come more!"
"My daughter started at Roots in December 2023. At the time she was struggling with school and her mood was low, infact it was the lowest point so far on what has been a difficult 4 years of navigating secondary school.
Within a few weeks of attending Roots her mood improved and she looked forward to attending. She is motivated to go every week. Things improved at her mainstream school as well. It is a safe place for her to go and the staff are able to support her in her learning differences and are able to offer alternative qualifications. Roots has played an important part of my daughter’s wellbeing."
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