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Solid Steps was founded in 2020 by Nicola Brown, a neurodivergent and qualified SEN teacher specialising in Applied Theatre in Education. Nicola established 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 access meaningful, specialist SEN provision within their community.
At Solid Steps, Nicola and her team design meaningful, skills-based curricula and individualised learning programmes within a safe, supportive environment where students feel understood, valued and empowered. The service meets learners and their families exactly where they are in their educational journey, working collaboratively to remove barriers to learning. Solid Steps also prioritises opportunities for peer interaction and access to the wider community through a range of off-site learning and enrichment programmes.
Through Nicola’s leadership and the dedication of the wider teaching and support team, Solid Steps has created a nurturing, holistic environment where every individual is supported to take the next step towards becoming the best version of themselves. This whole-child approach improves outcomes, raises aspirations and empowers students to build a brighter future, regardless of their starting point.
At Solid Steps, our inclusive and nurturing culture ensures that every young person feels seen, valued and supported to take positive steps towards understanding and 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 alongside our learners to reduce barriers to learning, strengthen communication and unlock their academic, social and personal potential.
Our ethos is built on genuine care, clear and consistent boundaries, and high expectations, ensuring that every student is equipped with the strategies, encouragement and support they need to develop independence, resilience and meaningful life skills.
At Solid Steps, we celebrate every achievement, no matter how small, and empower each young person to take positive steps towards a brighter, more confident future.
We are committed to advocating for our learners in all aspects of their lives, ensuring that best practice and professional standards are consistently upheld.
Our 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 supported through advice, advocacy and our Family Partnership Model throughout their child’s learning journey with Solid Steps.
We celebrate our learners for their unique and individual qualities. Their communication styles, personalities and strengths are seen, heard and recognised. We also support them with their day-to-day challenges, forming part of a caring community around our learners and their families.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to everything we do at Solid Steps, stemming from our core belief in the unique worth of every individual. We celebrate difference, prioritise diversity and create a space where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive.
We place great importance on the wellbeing of our students.
Our Pastoral Support Team has an open-door policy and is available on-site five days a week, offering a listening ear, emotional support and practical guidance whenever it is needed.
Our goal is to ensure that 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 recognise, 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, and 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 on-site each day by our in-house chef. We offer a warm, homely menu featuring a variety of delicious Caribbean-inspired dishes, nutritious options and rotating weekly specials.
Each meal is thoughtfully prepared to be comforting, culturally familiar and nutritionally balanced, supporting our students’ wellbeing throughout the school day. We also cater for dietary requirements, allergies and personal preferences to ensure that every learner enjoys a safe, enjoyable and nourishing lunchtime experience.
We offer transport to and from our education provision for students whose journey to our centre may otherwise be a barrier to learning. Our dedicated 12-seater Solid Steps minibus provides safe and reliable transport, ensuring that every learner can attend consistently and comfortably.