Alternative Provision
The Pottering Shed
Sensory Haven for Emotional Discovery
*Meet Jemma @thepotteringshed
- I have extensive experience of working with children who have, Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. The Pottering Shed has become everything I hoped for and more. Here, children make meaningful progress through a gentle, relational approach. Every small step taken is recognised, and celebrated as the truly remarkable achievement it is.
- Prior to The Pottering Shed my commitment to an inclusive culture contributed to the award of “Primary School of the Year 2023!” Together, with my talented colleagues, we put the wellbeing of the children first. I have so many precious memories of watching children be able to flourish emotionally and now, within this provision, I have the privilege of witnessing these moments unfold daily.
- My colourful career path has and will always centre around the children who need warmth, understanding, acceptance and a subtle ‘hold of the hand,’ to reach their full potential.
- My own two precious children, along with all of the children that I have supported in schools and through my provision, are my inspiration behind The Pottering Shed. I know what it feels like to provide and receive support that empowers your family unit. As a mum myself, I know how our children are rightly the most important part of our worlds.
- Based in Copmanthorpe, York.
- Contact: thepotteringshedjemma@gmail.com for more information.
*Wellbeing Alternative Provision for Children in York
In a challenging education system, I want to ensure that no child becomes invisible or lost. My ethos centres around Emotion Coaching and Zones of Regulation. This forms the basis of a creative toolkit, for school, home and beyond. I am a nurturing specialist teacher, laying the foundations for happiness and positive mental health. Every child matters to me!
*Sessions @thepotteringshed
- Growing Resilience, Nurturing Success: The Pottering Shed!
- Small group sessions comprising of up to 2 children. Full day and shorter session availability, subject to referral, visit, consultation, risk assessment and subject to waiting list for Alternative Provision.
- All sessions are creative, exciting, fun and ‘hands on!’ Children love my multi sensory interventions. No two sensory exploration activities look the same. Each session contains high quality input, resources and experiences, whilst retaining routines that reinforce the strategies needed.
- All sessions use the Zones of Regulation and Emotion Coaching to problem solve with the child. To complement these tools, the session consists of: a Sensory Exploration Activity, a Nurture Snack, Mindful Minutes, Personal Discovery Target Time, Emotional Discovery Stories and Sensory Circuits.
- Each cycle involves a series of sessions in line with the Mental Health Curriculum. A range of discovery topics are explored in depth. The six cycles covered are: Emotional Literacy, Regulation, Self Belief, Resilience, Problem Solving and Risk Taking.
- Learning in The Pottering Shed is based around research led interventions. This is enhanced by my own unique planning based on my teaching and first hand expertise. Curriculum covered areas are integrated where appropriate in a bespoke way. Some sessions include foundation subjects in a thematic approach and linked to Maths and English.
- York Local Authority Quality Assured Provider.
* My Values
I am a believer in recognising the qualities of all children.
I am a loud champion and advocate for individual talents.
I am a gentle scaffolder, when children face challenges.
I am a calm sea in any child’s ‘storm.’ I can change direction when needed.
I am a mountain climber, hand holder, heart giver and a listening ear.
I am part of ‘your village’ to help grow a resilient child, without any judgment.
*More about what is on offer @thepotteringshed
I am a believer in the rich curriculum and culture that underpins Alternative Provision. My sessions closely link to the Physical and Mental Wellbeing Curriculum. In order to learn, children need to feel well and have the strategies and real life skills to cope with everything this world can throw at them. Most sessions are on a 1:1 basis to ensure the highest level or care, attention and support for each individual. All sessions are full of creative flair, with opportunities to express in a Sensory Haven for Emotional Discovery.
Children who feel unable to access education at the moment, due to their own emotional needs, would be welcomed here with open arms and an understanding heart.
Every session has a bespoke element, to work on individual outcomes. All sessions involve a therapeutic, sensory, hands on, creative experience. I believe this is the best way to learn and grow!
Additional Services @thepotteringshed
*Home Education Sessions
At The Pottering Shed, our home education sessions focus on building resilience, confidence, and social skills through creative, hands-on activities while covering essential life skills. We are passionate advocates of the home education route, believing it offers children a much richer, tailored curriculum that nurtures their individual strengths. Through a variety of multisensory and engaging tasks, we help children develop the confidence and emotional tools they need to thrive, both academically and socially.
*Funding and Individualised Support
Our sessions are designed to provide personalised, high quality support tailored to each child’s unique needs. Some sessions are privately funded through a flexible schooling agreement allowing families to supplement their child’s education with additional tailored support. Other sessions are funded directly through school ensuring that all sessions align with the child’s educational plan and broader learning goals.
*Who is @thepotteringshed for?
The Pottering Shed supports children with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs who may find mainstream settings overwhelming. We offer a calm and nurturing environment for children who have experienced trauma, anxiety, loss, or who are disengaged from learning. Through a relational, low-demand approach, we help children rebuild confidence, develop regulation strategies, and reconnect with a positive sense of self. We are here for children who feel overwhelmed in busy classrooms, need space to regulate emotionally, are navigating transitions, require a sensory-supportive environment, or need time to re-engage with learning at their own pace. Here, every child is understood, valued, and given the gentle encouragement they need to grow in their own unique way.
Whilst we would love to accommodate all children, our current staffing ratios do not allow us to offer the higher level of support needed for children who may display significantly challenging behaviours. At present, we are unable to support children who mostly communicate their needs through behaviours such as violence. We understand that our sessions and environment can mitigate risks in some cases. We are open to considering individual cases through the referral process.
Our Journey of Continued Expansion
Expanding Our Provision: The Pottering Shed & Play Den
We are delighted to share that we have expanded The Pottering Shed and that this unique space has grown to offer even more opportunities for children to dream, express, and nourish themselves.
At the heart of this development is The Pottering Play Den (Dream, Express, and Nourish) a dedicated workshop area designed to enrich creativity, support emotional well-being, and encourage exploratory learning. With increased space and additional thoughtfully curated resources, children now benefit from low-demand, restorative break opportunities in alignment with our demand graph planning, helping them feel safe, regulated, and ready to learn.
How The Pottering Shed Makes a Difference
We gather feedback termly from schools, stakeholders, families and children and the response is consistently that The Pottering Shed is a happy, safe and nurturing space that children love being in. We track progress through SMART outcomes and children have made significant progress here but most importantly they want to be here!
Here is a small flavour of what The Pottering Shed truly feels like, from the families who are part of this provision:
Connection and Relational Approach “The trust our child has in you, that you are a safe person who understands her and respects her, is amazing. What you have done is starting to show our child that there really are beautiful people out there.”
Trips, Learning and Hands On Experiences
“With the help of The Pottering Shed the wonderful trips our son went on enabled him to overcome his anxiety, be independent and grow in confidence. The practical hands-on learning gave him the opportunity to ask meaningful questions, fully immerse himself in the experience and thrive.”
Weekly Session Reports
“Thank you for your wonderful, comprehensive reports. Our child has flourished and truly blossomed with you.”
Emotional Literacy Learning
“We’ve found it amazing how she has clearly been listening and genuinely learning from what you have been teaching her about the Zones of Regulation.”
Transition and Settling In
“Our child really enjoyed their first session, she has taken to you immediately and was in such a good mood all the way home.”
Please get in touch…
For more information regarding the referral process, policies, pricing packages, suitability and/or to visit us, please get in touch. Our sessions are full, but we’d love to hear from you and support your child’s journey of emotional discovery. We will let you know as soon as spaces open. The next intake will be in February 2026. We are also exploring ways to expand to help more children access this nurturing space.
Email: thepotteringshedjemma@gmail.com
the pottering shed 