At Minds Lead, our team is guided by a clear belief: strong, trusting relationships—combined with trauma-informed practice—can transform a young person’s journey. Every member of staff brings specialist expertise, genuine compassion, and a commitment to helping learners rebuild confidence and reconnect with their education.

Our professionals understand how trauma can influence behaviour, emotional regulation, social interactions, and learning. By creating safe, predictable, and nurturing environments, they help students feel grounded, respected, and ready to progress. Whether a young person joins us from mainstream education, an alternative provision, or a more specialist setting, our staff work together to remove barriers and support students back into positive routines.

Trauma-Informed Expertise

A major strength of our provision is the number of practitioners trained as Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs). This specialist training enables staff to:

Recognise emotional needs early

Provide targeted, meaningful support

Help students develop resilience, communication, and self-regulation

ELSAs play an integral role in ensuring that emotional wellbeing is embedded at the centre of our practice, shaping every interaction, lesson, and support plan.

Creative and Therapeutic Approaches

We value the role of creativity in emotional healing. Dance and performing arts form an important part of our therapeutic offer, giving students an expressive outlet to explore feelings, build confidence, strengthen social connections, and reconnect with their identity. These opportunities complement our trauma-informed ethos and support both emotional and academic development.

Experienced Leadership

Our provision is led by Katie Leivers, who brings over 15 years of experience across mainstream and alternative education. As a qualified ELSA and committed advocate for trauma-informed practice, Katie ensures that every aspect of Minds Lead—from curriculum design to daily routines—reflects best practice and responds to the needs of the young people we support.

A Multi-Disciplinary Team Around Every Learner

Our blended learning model gives each student access to a wide range of expertise, including:

Qualified teachers delivering high-quality academic lessons aligned with school expectations

Experienced support staff leading mentoring, behaviour support, and personal development

Specialist practitioners providing counselling, therapeutic interventions, and emotional regulation programmes

External professionals offering additional expertise where needed

Together, our team delivers a holistic, personalised experience that nurtures wellbeing, builds resilience, and empowers every learner to move forward with confidence.