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    Alternative curriculum pathways in mainstream schools

    Mainstream Plus

    At the heart of every thriving school is a commitment to inclusion - where every child feels valued, understood, and supported to achieve their full potential.

    Mainstream Plus is an enhanced provision within a mainstream school that provides targeted, specialist support for children and young people whose needs cannot be fully met through universal classroom strategies alone, but who do not require a specialist school placement.

    Designed around the principles of inclusion, early intervention and personalised support, Mainstream Plus enables pupils to remain part of their school community while accessing additional teaching, therapeutic interventions and pastoral support tailored to their individual needs.

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    Empowering every learner

    The aim of Mainstream Plus is to:

    • remove barriers to learning
    • improve attendance and engagement
    • promote wellbeing
    • ensure that pupils can achieve positive educational and life outcomes

    Provisions typically support pupils with a range of needs, including:

    • Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) difficulties
    • Autism
    • Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA)
    • communication and interaction needs
    • learning difficulties

    Support is delivered through a flexible and graduated approach, combining specialist intervention with opportunities for pupils to participate in mainstream lessons and wider school life.

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    Connection and belonging

    A key strength of the Mainstream Plus model is its focus on keeping children connected to their peers, community and education.

    This is achieved through:

    • personalised pathways
    • small group teaching
    • mentoring
    • therapeutic interventions
    • strong family partnerships

    Pupils are supported to develop confidence, resilience and independence while maintaining a sense of belonging within their mainstream school. 

    Ultimately, Mainstream Plus reflects a commitment to ensuring that more children and young people can thrive within mainstream education, receiving specialist support without losing the benefits of being educated alongside their peers. It represents an important bridge between universal provision and specialist education, helping schools deliver a more inclusive and responsive SEND system for all learners. 

    How Mainstream Plus Support can work effectively in mainstream schools


    Mainstream Plus Support can:

    • provide early intervention before needs escalate, identifying pupils at risk of disengagement, exclusion or persistent absence and offering support at the earliest opportunity
    • maintain pupils' connection to mainstream education, ensuring children remain part of their school community, peer groups and wider school experiences
    • offer a graduated pathway of support, with varying levels of intervention that can be increased or reduced according to need
    • deliver flexible and personalised timetables, allowing pupils to access a combination of specialist support and mainstream lessons
    • use trauma-informed and relationship-based approaches to build trust, promote emotional regulation and create a sense of safety and belonging

    How Mainstream Plus Support can work effectively in mainstream schools

    Mainstream Plus Support can:

    • provide targeted small-group teaching to address gaps in literacy, numeracy, communication and learning
    • offer specialist interventions, including ELSA, mentoring, coaching, social skills programmes and therapeutic support
    • develop individual pupil profiles and support plans that clearly identify strengths, needs, goals and effective strategies
    • monitor progress regularly, using structured reviews, attendance data, wellbeing measures and academic outcomes to assess impact
    • promote positive mental health and wellbeing, recognising that emotional wellbeing is fundamental to successful learning and engagement

    How Mainstream Plus Support can work effectively in mainstream schools

    Mainstream Plus Support can:

    • support pupils with Emotionally Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA) through graduated transitions, reduced timetables and personalised reintegration plans
    • create predictable routines and supportive environments that reduce anxiety and help pupils feel secure
    • work closely with families, ensuring parents and carers are involved in planning, reviewing and celebrating progress
    • strengthen collaboration with external agencies, including Educational Psychology, CAMHS, Speech and Language Therapy and SEND services
    • provide opportunities for reintegration, enabling pupils to increase their participation in mainstream lessons as confidence and resilience grow

    How Mainstream Plus Support can work effectively in mainstream schools

    Mainstream Plus Support can:

    • build aspiration and confidence, offering leadership opportunities, enrichment activities, careers education and work-related learning
    • reduce exclusions and suspensions by providing responsive support that addresses underlying needs rather than focusing solely on behaviour
    • improve attendance and engagement through personalised programmes that reconnect pupils with learning
    • develop staff expertise, ensuring teachers and support staff have access to SEND, SEMH and inclusion training
    • create a culture of inclusion across the whole school, where Mainstream Plus is viewed as an integral part of school provision rather than a separate provision