OUR MISSION
Our mission is to make education work for every learner. We create bespoke, child-centred programmes that combine academic tuition, mentoring and personal development to remove barriers to learning, rebuild confidence and help young people make meaningful progress.
By understanding each learner as an individual and adapting support around their needs, strengths and aspirations, we aim to create clear pathways back into education, further learning and future opportunity.
About us
Compass Learning is a local authority approved part-time alternative provision, managed education provider, delivering SEND, SEMH and EHCP education support for learners across Greater Manchester. Our child-centred approach creates a package around a young person to enable them to thrive. We believe in meeting young people where they are at, and building confidence and engagement, to guide them toward their bright futures. We are an approved provider on Manchester City Council's MIAPS service.
Built around the individual
No two learners are the same, so no two Compass programmes look exactly the same. We begin by understanding each young person’s academic starting point, SEND profile, strengths, barriers, interests and personal development needs. This informs their Individual Learning and Development Plan (ILDP) and a carefully designed six-week programme combining the right balance of tuition, mentoring and wider support.
Education that re-engages
Many of the young people we support have experienced disruption, anxiety or disengagement from education. Our approach is designed to rebuild confidence, relationships and readiness to learn. Where appropriate, personalised EBSNA support is built into the mentoring programme, with clear steps towards greater independence, re-engagement and purposeful reintegration into education.
Led by education specialists
Our programmes are overseen by experienced education professionals and delivered by carefully selected tutors and mentors. Programme Leads coordinate each learner’s package, monitor progress and provide ongoing guidance to the professionals working with them. Safeguarding, SEND and quality assurance are embedded throughout our approach, and Compass has chosen to adopt the Department for Education’s Voluntary Alternative Provision Standards as a framework for our practice, helping us maintain high expectations around safety, quality, leadership and learner experience.
Progress with Purpose
We believe provision should lead somewhere. Every six weeks, progress is reviewed against the learner’s ILDP so that we can measure impact, recognise successes and identify where support needs to change. The next programme is then refined accordingly, ensuring provision remains responsive and focused on meaningful outcomes — whether that is improved attainment, greater engagement, increased independence or a successful transition back into school, college or another appropriate education pathway.