Outside the Box is made up of a core team of experienced SEN leaders, with extensive experience in effectively supporting a whole range of different needs with success. For our outreach, mentoring and education programmes we have incredibly skilled staff with a proven track record of building incredible relationships with young people with a wide variety of neurodivergence. We believe in the therapeutic benefits of the outdoor activities, fitness and positive hobbies and can offer a range of wellbeing activities linked to this. We have worked with children with a wide range of different conditions from ADHD, PDA, ASC, Dyslexia, as well as a wide range of SEMH and sensory needs. 

As a team we have developed and led a number of different social and emotional support packages over the last decade and have a rich understanding of the needs of a diverse spectrum of children, be they diagnosed, or not. We  have also contributed to the therapeutic and psychological offer of local outstanding special schools and have a wealth of understanding of all aspects of SEN, and how to implement positive support strategies to support every young person.

As part of Outside the Box we also draw on regular training from Speech and Language, Educational Psychology and Occupational therapy for advice and support, delivered by some of the best practitioners Cornwall has to offer. Please contact us if you think this may be of interest to you. We can also support in referrals to these services.

Our Core team...

Outside the Box founder Luke Bolsin has worked in education for over 20 years, from being a mainstream secondary teacher, to the last 11 years as a SENDCO and senior leader in special education. Luke also worked on a part time advisor basis within the County Autism in schools team. His background and passions lie in enriching outdoor experiences, through activities such as surfing, surf lifesaving and mountain biking, and weaving this into provision for young people to support their own development. Luke is a Trauma informed schools practitioner and also holds a range of other therapeutic certifications, such as CBT and DDP practitioner status. He is also a fully qualified beach lifeguard and SLSGB trainer, as well as SUP, power kite and Mountain bike instructor. He believes very much in the proven scientific benefits of the outdoors and it’s increasing importance and relevance to the mental wellbeing of us all.

Jo Goldring, who oversees our core support team, started her educational career as a teaching assistant supporting children 1 to 1, but has since worked in supporting care homes and more recently in a leadership capacity for a busy SEMH special setting. She has a wide range of experiences and skills with a  background in visual art used mixed media as well as counselling awards. She is passionate about the outdoors and exercise and has an intrinsic sense of the link between physical and mental wellbeing. In her spare time, whilst being a busy Mum to two teenagers, she likes to get in the sea, body surfing, swimming and surfing, or focus on her own 3D art projects. Jo also holds a surf safety award, and is a passionate gym goer.

We are also excited to have Mike Deacy working with us one day a week. He has extensive SEN leadership experience, at a school level but also regionally, setting up two outstanding SEMH schools locally as Headteacher and Executive Head. He currently runs his own SEN and school improvement consultancy service, and is supporting OTB and our staff and young people both strategically and also on the ground. He is an outstanding science teacher, relatively skilled footballer, but his main passion lies in playing and watching live music. Mike can make music from almost any household item and loves sharing this passion with our children.

Our enrichment team are bolstered by a range of incredible people, who share a passion for building positive relationships, and who always go the extra mile to think 'Outside the Box' for our children and clients. Everyone on our team understands that traditional classroom-based education simply doesn’t work for everyone, and we are passionate about ensuring all children thrive and flourish. We are trained and experienced to ensure everyone we work with can reach their potential. 

Wellbeing dogs: