Alternative Education & Land-Based Learning in Kent

Helping Young People Thrive Through Practical Learning

Frampton Farm provides alternative education, external tuition, home education programmes and accredited land-based qualifications for children and young people who learn best through practical, hands-on experiences.

Based on our family-run working farm between Dover and Folkestone, we offer a supportive learning environment where students can develop confidence, independence and employability skills while working with a wide range of farm animals and learning practical land-based skills.

Our programmes are suitable for learners aged 8 years through to adults and are tailored to meet individual needs, abilities and aspirations.

Our Education Pathways

Every learner is different, which is why we offer a range of flexible learning pathways.

Alternative Provision

We work with schools, local authorities and families to provide personalised alternative education programmes for learners who may benefit from a smaller, practical learning environment.

Our programmes are suitable for young people who may be:

Struggling in mainstream education

At risk of exclusion

Electively home educated

Experiencing school-related anxiety or avoidance

Living with SEND or SEMH needs

Looking for vocational learning opportunities

Preparing for further education or employment

Each programme is tailored to the learner's individual needs and desired outcomes.

Nature-Based Learning

Learning outdoors provides opportunities for young people to build confidence, develop resilience and improve their wellbeing while gaining practical skills.

Learners take part in a variety of activities including:

Some of the referrals come from:

Animal care and husbandry

Horticulture and food growing

Seasonal farming tasks

Practical land-based projects

Working alongside our experienced tutors, learners develop responsibility, teamwork, communication and independence within a safe and supportive environment.

AQA Unit Award Scheme

We are proud to offer the AQA Unit Award Scheme (UAS), providing learners with the opportunity to gain nationally recognised certificates for completing individual units of learning.

The Unit Award Scheme is ideal for learners who:

Benefit from personalised learning programmes

Are not yet ready for a full qualification

Need to build confidence through smaller achievements

Thrive through practical, hands-on learning

Units can be tailored to each learner's interests and may include:

Animal Handling

Livestock Husbandry

Feeding and Nutrition

Health Checking Animals

Poultry Care

Practical Horticulture

Health and Safety

Employability Skills

Teamwork and Communication

Each completed unit earns an individual AQA certificate, allowing learners to build a portfolio of recognised achievements.

City & Guilds Qualifications

We offer nationally recognised City & Guilds qualifications designed to develop practical knowledge and prepare learners for further education or employment.

Our current qualifications include:

Entry Level Animal Care (9 years+)

Entry Level Land-Based Construction (9 years+)

Level 1 Practical Horticulture (11 years+)

Level 1 Land Based Studies - Animal Care (14 years+)

Level 1 Land Based Studies - Land Based Constuction (14 years+)

Level 2 Animal Care (12 years+)

Courses are available through one-to-one tuition, small group learning and selected hybrid learning programmes.

Hybrid Learning

Selected qualifications are available through our flexible Hybrid Learning model.

Learners complete the theory-based elements of the course from home or school using our online learning platform, supported by our experienced tutors. Practical skills and assessments are then completed during one-to-one or small group sessions at the farm.

Hybrid learning is ideal for:

Home educated learners

Students attending school full time

Learners requiring flexible timetables

Young people with anxiety or health needs

Families travelling longer distances

This flexible approach allows learners to study at their own pace while still gaining valuable practical experience.

Learning on a Working Farm

Frampton Farm is home to over 200 animals, providing learners with genuine hands-on experience caring for a variety of livestock and small animals.

Practical activities may include:

Animal handling and restraint

Feeding and watering

Mucking out and bedding

Animal accommodation

Biosecurity procedures

Lambing and kidding (seasonal)

Poultry care

Horticulture and food production

Tree planting and conservation

Farm maintenance

Every session reflects the changing seasons and the day-to-day realities of working on a farm.

Developing Skills for Life

Our programmes are about much more than qualifications or certification

Learners develop valuable life and employability skills including:

Confidence

Independence

Communication

Teamwork

Problem solving

Responsibility

Organisation

Practical work skills

Emotional resilience

Preparation for employment and further education

Many learners who have struggled in traditional classroom settings flourish in our practical, supportive environment.

Why Choose Frampton Farm?

Small, friendly learning groups

Individual learning programmes

Experienced and supportive tutors

Real working farm environment

Flexible learning pathways/p>

Hybrid learning options

One-to-one tuition available

AQA Unit Award Scheme

City & Guilds qualifications

Nature-based learning

Strong links with schools, families and local authorities

Referrals

We welcome referrals from:

Schools

Local Authorities

Home educating families

Parents and carers/p>

EHCP teams

Social Care

Early Help services

Other professionals supporting children and young people

Every learner begins with an informal visit to the farm, giving families and professionals the opportunity to meet our team, explore the facilities and discuss individual learning goals before deciding on the most appropriate programme.

Book a Visit

Choosing the right learning environment is an important decision.

We invite parents, carers, schools and professionals to arrange a visit to Frampton Farm to meet our team, tour the farm and discuss how we can support your young person.

To arrange a visit or request further information, please contact us today.