Alternative Provision (SEND / SEMH)
About Teach Me Happy
Teach Me Happy can be commissioned by schools, local councils, parents and guardians to provide education for their pupils who may be at risk of exclusion or find it difficult to be taught in a mainstream setting. This could be due to SEND or social, emotional or mental health issues. Most of our students study at Teach Me Happy up to 2 1/2 days per week with a maximum of 13 hours per week of education.
On induction, Teach Me Happy work with parents/guardians and teachers and the students themselves so that we can provide a curriculum that works for them. We work alongside Termly Support Plans or EHCP’s to ensure that any SEND, either diagnosed or not diagnosed, is fully taken into consideration when planning and delivering teaching. All of our teaching staff are experienced in helping children with SEND and our fully qualified SENDCo can help with applying for EHCP’s and also with annual reviews.
Teach Me Happy can support students before they go into crisis with our personalised curriculum and small group sizes, 1-2-1 learning opportunities and daily holistic sessions, academic interventions for reading, writing, maths and science.
Teach me Happy can be commissioned by elective home education (EHE) as an alternative provision for students that find it difficult to attend mainstream education due to school refusal, anxiety or Special Educational Needs. Places of up to 13 hours per week can be offered, if there are no current spaces available then students will be added to a waiting list.
Students remain on-roll at their original school and can then take up to 13 hours per week of education at Teach Me Happy. Students can continue to study at their current school on a limited timetable or they can be placed at other suitable provisions. Students are encouraged to start by taking a half day or full day placement per week at Teach Me Happy while relationships are built, helping the students to adapt to their change in education over time. We also encourage the same small step approach in reintegrating students back into mainstream education, where possible, to ensure a successful transition.
Teach Me Happy are primary professionals who understand the huge leap from transitioning from primary school to secondary school. We offer a transition course to help students that are finding this transition difficult, helping them to transition to secondary at a slower pace for greater success. We believe in a small steps approach, slowly building the school timetable while the student emotionally adapts to this change.
Meet the Team
Teach Me Happy also has a team of volunteers and also welcomes work-based placements. Please use the 'contact us' form to enquire.
Director
Gorgi Gowthorpe
Gorgi has six years teaching experience and is the provision's qualified SENCo.. Gorgi's parents are foster carers therefore Gorgi has a wealth of experience of children in care and related traumas. Gorgi is a Level 2 Showjumping Coach (UKCC) through British Showjumping Association. This has enabled us to offer riding sessions through our provision.
Director
Adele Lord-Laverick
Adele is currently completing her Doctor of Education qualification with a thesis in autism studies. Adele also has seven years teaching experience and personal experience of children with SEND as both of her children have additional needs which include autism and ADHD, this enables her to have a good understanding from a parent's perspective.
Head of Provision
Liz Waters
Liz is a fully qualified teacher with many years teaching in specialist schools. As Head of Provision, Liz is your first point of contact for new commissions from both schools and parents.
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Deputy Head of Provision
Dan Walmsley
Dan is a fully qualified HLTA and a certified NAPPi instructor, ensuring that staff across Teach Me Happy and Lord Gowthorpe's are all trained in positive behaviour support techniques.
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Support Staff
Chloe Thompson
Chloe has both professional and personal experience of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Chloe joined the company as a volunteer and has quickly become a firm favourite with our young people.
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Support Staff
Hannah Trent
Hannah begins with Teach Me Happy in January 2026. Hannah is an experience HLTA with many years specialising in the area of SEND. Hannah is also ELSA qualified with education in the areas of psychology and inclusion.