Over the last few years the Centre has developed an imaginative range of alternatives designed to provide learning opportunities for young people who, because of significant periods of non-school attendance, personal difficulties, behavioural issues or low achievement have special educational needs. Although the Centre does not provide education entirely within the framework of the National Curriculum, it is often the best option for most young people. Many of those currently attending do so as an alternative to mainstream education and training because they have some degree of special educational need.

Over the last few months links have been established between local schools, colleges and the County's Pupil Referral Unit. The Centre has developed a range of experiences designed to rebuild confidence, motivation and self-esteem amongst young people in danger of being permanently excluded from main stream education.
Feedback from schools and parents on the benefits of these experiences has been very encouraging.

Copelaw Education and Training also provides an alternative youth training scheme of young people within the County who, for a number of reasons, have not been able to benefit from more traditional schemes. Through partnership arrangements with other organisations such as the Training and Enterprise Council, a significant number of young people have been helped into further education, modern apprenticeships, pre-vocational training or full time jobs.

Courses currently offered in addition to provision for some of the resident young people include:

• Under-16 day students:
  Pupils excluded, or at risk of being excluded, from local mainstream schools.
• Copelaw Training:
  Vocational Training for young people over 16, preparing them for employment or mainstream training.
• Pre-Service Programme:
  Preparing young people for entry to the uniformed services (including the armed forces as well as civilian uniformed services such as the Fire Service).
• New Deal:
  Full-Time Education and Training under the government's New Deal programme, using outdoor experiences as the basis for development of personal skills and skills for employabiliy