‘SEND-betweener’ children, who struggle in mainstream schools but can’t access specialist education, can now learn at a bespoke education space in Teignmouth.

The Pillow Fort, which launched on Exeter Street earlier this month, has been set up so children aged between five and 18 can access lessons that are tailored to their individual interests and learning needs.

It was developed by Teignmouth mum Heather Smith-Gibbons after she struggled to find opportunities for her own children when she deregistered them from mainstream education due to SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability).

Heather, who is a qualified teacher and has a background working with vulnerable children, quickly realised that there was a demand for local support for home educating families with SEND.

She initially set up a Facebook group where she shared free, interest-based educational resources for parents and carers and organised local meetups for families in a similar situation.

The group was so well-received that she and some of the other parents set up a few low-demand home education groups and began running educational trips within a local community organisation. She also started some interest-based social groups around niche subjects like Manga and Pokemon.

‘I basically created the education environment and social opportunities that my own children wanted and needed,’ she commented.

As the groups grew, more parents began asking Heather if she would consider offering private tutoring sessions with the low-demand model she had been developing with her own children.

To meet this demand, Heather launched InvisAble InkEd last year and the specialist education service has proved so popular that Heather realised it needed a permanent base. ‘As a Teignmouth resident, it only felt right to find a premises here - in a beautiful seaside town, full to the brim with learning opportunities,’ she explained.

Children attending sessions at The Pillow Fort vary from those unable to acquire a suitable setting via a education, health and care plan (EHCP), some might be waiting for a placement to start, while others may be experiencing emotionally-based school avoidance (EBSA) or those who have chosen to home educate.

‘At the Pillow Fort learners can access education in their own way, at their own pace, and with the tools they need to succeed via one-to-one sessions or learning groups,’ Heather said.

Heather is Makaton-trained and uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to ensure that every learner can communicate in whatever way works for them.

‘Whether they are into Pokemon or roller coasters, they have access to rich, multidisciplinary learning resources which are neuro-affirming, strengths-based, and flexible,’ Heather explained. ‘In one session, they might design and 3D print their favourite game character, and in the next, they might use Virtual Reality to learn Japanese through an immersive experience,’ she added.

InvisAble InkEd also provides alternative provision for a local primary school, in-school support for another local school and specialist courses. Beyond education, Heather provides job opportunities for teenagers with a paid youth employment programme and she is currently working with four neurodiverse young people in Teignmouth to help them journey into the working world. She also co-runs a SEND home education group in Newton Abbot and is keen to further develop collaborations with other local organisations and professionals.