A new programme introduced at Petroc is helping young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) who suffer from extreme anxiety, to stay engaged with their education.
It’s working so well that Devon County Council wants other colleges in Devon to introduce similar programmes.
Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents, according to the World Health Organisation.
The NHS says anxiety specifically is an increasingly common problem among children and young people, with approximately one in 10 people experiencing it at some point in their lives.
Difficulties arising from anxiety can be numerous, including for some, avoiding certain situations, such as attending school or college, says Mim White, Head of Inclusion and High Needs at Petroc,.
“Anxiety can hold some young people back to such an extent that they are at risk of missing out on their education, unless there’s the right support to help them.” says Mim.
“We know some young people who are at risk of disengaging with their education, or they have disengaged due to their anxiety and are not currently in education, employment or training.
“With the right intervention, we want to help those young people to get back on track, and to help them achieve.”
Petroc has been piloting a programme that provides one-to-one support for young people with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), who are either at risk of disengaging, or who have already disengaged with their education, due to their extreme anxiety.
It’s called Home to On-Site (or H2O), and it starts at home.
“These are young people whose extreme anxiety is preventing them from attending college,” explains Mim.
“Our trained mentors visit the young person in their own home, and gets to know them and their family, and properly understand their anxiety.
“Over time, the relationship becomes one of trust and mutual respect, on which the young person feels comfortable to re-engage gradually with the education, re-shaping their outlook on their future.
“We’ve found through this programme that when we meet young people where they are, and truly listen and respond to their needs, we can unlock potential that might otherwise go unrealised,” says Mim.
Already, the H2O programme is delivering results.
“Our son, Rory, started the H2O course in Tiverton in September 2024 for his year 11 education having spent many years out of education due to autistic burnout and debilitating anxiety,” said Lisa.
Rory was visited at home by Jo, his mentor.
“What really helped me first was that Jo got to know me,” says Rory. “She came to my house and saw my animals and was really interested in the stuff I like.
“There were times that she came to my house, and I couldn’t come down the stairs to see her because I was feeling anxious, but Jo was fine about that and I didn’t feel any pressure.
“I couldn’t go into college straight away as I was scared of it all.”
“I just went every week and talked loudly to mum downstairs, loudly so that Rory became familiar with my voice and my visits,” says mentor, Jo.
“Things slowly changed over the weeks and he started to show his animals to me and gain trust.
“Rory agreed to coming into college to show one of his pets to other H2O learners and staff. He was confident, and enjoyed being the expert. It gave him enough confidence to come into college again.”
The college began with a flexible timetable, allowing Rory to decide when he felt well enough to be in college. Each week, he became more confident and willing to engage.
“Now I go into college three days a week for a few hours at a time,” says Rory.
“I can go in by myself and just be myself.”
The H2O programme has given Rory a new outlook. He’d previously assumed that he was the only young person who couldn’t go to school because of anxiety, and that there was something wrong with him.
“I’ve learned that there are lots of other people who are in the same situation as me,” he said.
“It feels like I have my life back, and finally some structure in my week, which is what I needed.
“Doing the H2O course has given me confidence in myself again to be able to learn my way and be me.”
“Our son was barely able to leave the house due to anxiety at the start of this course,” says mum.
“He is now in college independently. This course has not only been supportive to his education but more importantly to his mental health. He now has self-worth and a belief in himself to be able to move forward into post-16 plans.
“As parents, many times we thought that he would never be able to access any education again. However, the H2O course has been life-changing, and we are truly grateful.”
The H2O programme is currently supporting 70 young people with EHCPs, helping to keep them engaged with their education.
The success of the pilot has prompted Devon County Council to encourage other colleges in Devon to take up similar programmes, to provide one-to-one support from Home to On-Site.