Alternative education

We’re extremely proud to announce our new partnership with Keysoe Therapy & Well-Being Centre, to offer a range of fully accredited qualifications that have been designed to support children and young people who have found learning in a classroom to be challenging.

Based in Bedfordshire and beginning with the level 1 qualification in work-based horse care, Keysoe Therapy & Well-Being Centre are ready to enrol learners who have an educational health care plan (EHCP) in place. As an experienced provider in alternative learning, we know how important this service will be to those in need of another avenue for educational development.

The Centre

Based in over 500 acres of North Bedfordshire countryside, Keysoe International is home to Keysoe Therapy and Well-being Centre. The therapy centre is run by a team of accomplished teachers including special educational needs and support staff, providing nurturing sessions designed to encourage participants to reach their social and academic potential. Combining nature and animals with practical skills development, they offer a unique and rewarding educational experience with state-of-the-art facilities and purpose-built learning areas, along with a superb range of animals.

The Course

The initial qualification being offered for enrolment now is the City & Guilds accredited level 1 in work-based horse care.  City & Guilds Land Based Services (formerly NPTC) is the UK’s largest awarding body in the land-based sector.

This industry-recognised qualification consists of a range of units which develop equine skills in health and safety, feeding and watering horses, cleaning stables and the yard, and putting on and taking off tack. There are also further unit options to explore, including learning how to groom and wash horses, or how to lead and control a horse for inspection, amongst many others.

This is a full-time* qualification with term-time intervals in parallel to the local authority’s school holidays and lasting approximately one academic year.

It is funded by the local authority for anyone from 14 – 25 years old with an EHCP within the catchment area and is also available to those who may wish to consider paying privately. The qualification can be taken as either an intermediate certificate or the more advanced diploma – this is determined by the age of the pupil their individual needs and the units chosen to complete.

Our Partnership

Haddon Training have been working to support people with additional educational needs for many years. We are passionate about supporting those who have found classroom environments to be difficult and enabling them to thrive in placements that allow them to gain formal qualifications.

Our Alternative Provision Lead, Frankie Roberts, is working closely with the Head of Education and Animal Welfare, Frances Murray, at Keysoe Therapy and Well-being Centre to deliver this amazing service.

Frances says, “We have chosen to partner with Haddon Training due to their award-winning status within the equestrian training field; they have been incredibly supportive of our new venture, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership.

The team here at Keysoe Therapy and Well-Being Centre are looking forward to welcoming participants on site for the full-time level 1 in work-based horse care and giving young people access to horses and qualifications within the industry.”

*Full-time provision will usually be 3 days per week, with flexibility through Monday – Friday.
The days will run from 9:30am – 2:30pm with half an hours lunch break.


Keysoe Therapy and Well-Being Centre will be holding two open days on the 18th and 20th April 2024 10am – 2pm for anyone who would like to find out more.

For further information and to register your interest, click here.

If you have any queries, please call 01234 708 400.