National Online Alternative Provision - improving engagement, attendance, impact & outcomes

Gaia Learning are a National Online Alternative Provision working across the UK. We specialise in interest-based learning for engagement and if appropriate, re-integration into school.

If your child is struggling in school — or unable to attend at all — you’re not alone. Many families reach out to Gaia Learning because their child is overwhelmed, anxious, masking, burnt out or simply not coping with the demands of mainstream education. Our online alternative provision (AP) gives children a calm, nurturing space to learn at their own pace, with educators who truly understand them.

Gaia Learning supports neurodivergent children with ADHD, autism, PDA, dyslexia, anxiety, sensory differences and school-based trauma. Our gentle, highly personalised online approach helps children feel safe, understood and able to learn again.

Unlike traditional AP settings, Gaia Learning removes environmental pressures such as noise, crowds, transitions and sensory overload. Our calm online classrooms allow learners to join from a space where they feel regulated and safe — helping them rebuild confidence, reduce anxiety and make meaningful academic and emotional progress.

Gaia Learning works closely with:

• Local Authorities (LAs)
• Virtual Schools
• Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs)
• Parents and carers

Why Alternative Provision Works

Online AP offers unique advantages that support children who struggle in face-to-face settings:

• Flexible scheduling for reduced timetables, phased returns or fluctuating needs
• Lower sensory load — no corridors, noise or overwhelm
• Personalised pacing to meet each child where they are
• 1:1 and small-group options for a safe, predictable learning environment
• Consistent educators who understand neurodivergence
• Safe space for school-refusing or anxious learners to reconnect with learning
• GCSE and core subject support aligned with the UK curriculum
• Smooth reintegration back into school through supportive, low-demand routines
• Accessible from anywhere, enabling continuity during illness or transitions

Online AP works because it meets children at their emotional and neurological starting point — without forcing them into environments that dysregulate them.