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Solid Steps was founded in 2020 by Nicola Brown, a neurodivergent, trained SEN Teacher specialising in Applied Theatre in Education. Nicola created the service in response to the growing need for specialist, person-centred EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than at School) provision for the SEN community in South London.
Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience, Nicola understands the barriers that young people and their families face when trying to secure meaningful, specialist SEN provision within the community.
At Solid Steps, Nicola and her team design meaningful, skills-based curriculums and individualised learning programmes within an environment where students feel safe, understood, valued and supported. The service meets learners and their families exactly where they are on their educational journey, working collaboratively to remove barriers to learning. Solid Steps also prioritises peer-to-peer social opportunities and access to the wider community through a range of off-site learning enrichment programmes.
Through Nicola’s leadership and the dedication of the wider teaching and support team, Solid Steps has created a nurturing, holistic space where every individual is supported to take their next steps toward becoming the highest expression of themselves. This whole-child approach improves outcomes, raises aspirations, and empowers students to move towards a brighter future, regardless of their starting point.
At Solid Steps, our inclusive and nurturing culture ensures every young person feels seen, valued and supported to take positive steps towards understanding and self-managing their neurodivergence. As Head, my priority is to create an environment where students feel safe to express their needs, build confidence and develop the skills to regulate their emotions.
Using a compassionate Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) approach, we work with learners to reduce barriers, strengthen communication and unlock both academic and social potential.
Our ethos is built on genuine care, firm and fair boundaries, and high expectations, ensuring every student is given the right strategies and support to grow in independence, resilience and meaningful life skills.
At Solid Steps, we celebrate progress of all kinds and empower each young person to take steps toward a brighter, more confident future.
We are commited to the advocacy of our learners in all aspects of their lives, ensuring that best practice and professional standards are continually upheld.
Staff receive ongoing, high-quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and are encouraged to grow within their roles, developing specialist skills in areas such as safeguarding,
behaviour management, and understanding neurodiversity.
Parents and carers are engaged and supported through advice, advocacy, and our Family Partnership Model, throughout their child’s learning journey with Solid Steps.
At Solid Steps, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.
We work with some of the most marginalised and vulnerable young people in our community, and we are deeply committed to creating a culture where every learner is protected, valued, andsupported to thrive — both within our provision and in the wider community.
All staff are trained to deliver high-quality learning and support that ensures the safety and wellbeing of every learner in our care.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and our collective aim is to ensure that each young person feels safe, understood, and empowered in every setting.
We celebrate our learners for their unique and quirky qualities, their communication style personalities and strengths are seen, heard and recognised, as well as supporting their individual daily challenges, we form part of a community of care around our learners and their families.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do at SS stemming from our core belief in the unique worth of every individual, celebrating difference, prioritisng diversity, in a spacewhere everyone can thrive.
We place great importance on the wellbeing of our students.
Our Pastoral Support Team is an open door, available on-site five days a week, offering a listening ear, emotional support, and practical guidance whenever it’s needed.
Our goal is to ensure every student feels listened to, supported, and equipped to make progress both personally and academically.
We understand that behaviour is a form of communication. Our staff are trained in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and Team-Teach approaches, enabling them to notice, interpret, and respond to behaviour in an informed, compassionate, and consistent way.
We use a range of personalised interventions, which may include:
Individual Positive Behaviour Plans, One-to-one mentoring, Restorative conversations, Tailored support strategies, Structured routines and guidance
Through this approach, we aim to help every young person develop self-regulation, confidence, and the skills they need to thrive in all areas of life.
Our SS Dulwich students are provided with a freshly prepared lunchtime meal made onsite by our in-house chef. We offer a warm, homely menu with a variety of delicious Caribbean-inspired dishes, nutritious options and rotating weekly specials. Each meal is designed to be comforting, culturally familiar, and balanced to support students’ wellbeing throughout the school day. We can also cater for dietary needs, allergens, and personal preferences to ensure every learner enjoys a safe, enjoyable, and nourishing lunchtime experience.
We offer transport to and from education for students whose access to our centre may be a barrier to learning. Our dedicated 12-seater Solid Steps minibus provides safe, reliable pick-up and drop-off to ensure every learner can attend consistently and comfortably.