Evolve: KS3 Enhanced Provision

The Basildon Academies is proud to host Evolve, a KS3 partnership provision for students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Evolve provides early intervention and targeted support for young people who may find the transition from KS2 to KS3 challenging. Our aim is to offer a nurturing, therapeutic environment where students can overcome barriers, build resilience, increase confidence and successfully re-engage with their education.

Our provision is underpinned by the values of the Essex Approach to understanding behaviour and supporting emotional wellbeing, known as Trauma Perceptive Practice (TPP):

• Compassion and Kindness
• Hope
• Connection and Belonging

We recognise that behaviour is a form of communication and place each young person's mental health, wellbeing and individual needs at the centre of our work.

Who We Support

Evolve is designed for KS2 - 3 students who:

• Struggle to access the mainstream curriculum due to SEMH needs.
• Experience barriers such as anxiety, low self-esteem, emotional regulation difficulties or behavioural challenges.
• Require additional support to develop resilience, wellbeing and positive relationships.
• Would benefit from a more personalised and gradual transition into mainstream secondary education.

What We Offer

We offer up to 8 fully funded placements for young people whose SEMH needs may impact their transition to, and engagement in, mainstream secondary school.

The support we provide is tailored to each pupil's individual needs and may include:

• Advice and Consultation.
• Outreach Support.
• Part-time placements.
• Full-time placements.

Students benefit from:

• A calm, supportive and therapeutic learning environment.
• Small-group teaching and a low student-to-staff ratio.
• Highly trained staff who provide tailored support to meet individual needs.
• Therapeutic interventions that promote emotional regulation, resilience and positive mental wellbeing.
• A personalised curriculum that balances academic, social and emotional development.
• Activities that build upon individual strengths while gradually addressing areas of need or challenge.
• Support to develop emotional literacy, social awareness and self-regulation skills.
• A broad and balanced curriculum that promotes curiosity, engagement and a love of learning.
• Close partnership working with schools, families and external agencies to create a strong team around the child and ensure consistency across all settings.
• Ongoing support to enable successful reintegration into mainstream education or, where appropriate, transition into long-term specialist provision.

Our staff are fully trained and use a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach to develop a deeper understanding of each pupil's individual experiences, strengths and needs.

How It Works

Evolve works closely with the young person, their family, their allocated secondary school and relevant external agencies to develop a personalised support plan.

Students access a carefully planned blend of therapeutic, social and academic learning opportunities that focus on their strengths while building confidence in areas of need. Progress is regularly reviewed to ensure the provision remains responsive and effective.

Placements are time-limited, with the expectation that pupils will successfully return to their referring mainstream school wherever appropriate. As students develop confidence, resilience and readiness, time spent within their mainstream secondary school is gradually increased. The ultimate aim is for each young person to make a successful return to full-time mainstream education.

Building trusting relationships with pupils, families, schools and professionals is central to our success and supports positive long-term outcomes.

Impact

Since opening, Evolve has successfully supported mainstream schools to maintain pupils within mainstream education and, where appropriate, facilitate positive transitions into specialist provision.

Our work helps young people:

• Re-engage positively with education.
• Improve emotional regulation and resilience.
• Develop strategies to overcome barriers to learning.
• Increase confidence and self-esteem.
• Recognise and achieve their full potential.

In addition, we provide tailored CPD for referring schools, introducing and developing Trauma Perceptive Practice approaches that strengthen inclusive practice, enhance emotional wellbeing and improve outcomes for children and young people across the wider school community.

Referral Process

Referrals can be made:

• In Year 6 by primary schools, in partnership with the receiving secondary school, to support a successful transition into KS3.
• By secondary schools for students in Year 7 or Year 8 who would benefit from additional SEMH support.

Referrals are considered by a multi-agency panel and places are allocated based on need and suitability for the provision.

Monitoring Progress

Students' academic, social and emotional development is regularly reviewed with families, schools and relevant professionals to ensure the provision continues to meet individual needs and that students are making progress towards their agreed outcomes and next steps.

Why Choose Evolve?

Evolve is committed to reducing barriers to learning, preventing exclusion, re-engaging students with education and helping them develop the skills, confidence and resilience needed to thrive in mainstream school and beyond.

We also provide support, advice and guidance to schools across South Essex, helping to ensure that young people with SEMH needs receive the right support at the right time.

Through our collaborative approach, therapeutic support and commitment to Trauma Perceptive Practice, Evolve provides a pathway for young people to rebuild confidence, develop a positive sense of belonging and achieve success both within education and in everyday life.

Contact Us

For more information or to arrange a visit, please get in touch:

V.Oddy
Director of Inclusion
evolve@basildonacademies.org.uk

The Basildon Academies Enhanced Provisions

If you wish to make a request for support please ensure that you complete the relevant Request for Support Form (situated at the bottom of this page, and send it to: V.Oddy, Director of Inclusion at evolve@basildonacademies.org.uk 

Panel dates and submission deadlines 2026-27

Submission deadline date:	Panel date:
23rd September 2026	7th October 2026
18th November 2026	2nd December 2026
13th January 2027	27th January 2027
24th February 2027	10th March 2027
28th April 2027	12th May 2027
16th June 2027	30th June 2027

Safeguarding

At Evolve, the safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is V. Oddy, Director of Inclusion, and our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) is S.Rowe, Head of Provision.

If you have any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child, or wish to report a safeguarding issue, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our safeguarding team.