Equine MindsResources & policiesOur commitments
Approved guide
Our learning and support commitments
How we approach learning, rights, nature, community learning, learning and work, and safer participation. This page has the same words as our printable guide, laid out to work well with screen readers, zoom and translation tools.
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Learning at Equine Minds
Our Curriculum for Excellence commitments. For children and young people.
Successful learners
Build knowledge and useful skills through interests and practical tasks.
Examples: measuring, reading instructions and solving problems.
Confident individuals
Offer supported choices, manageable challenges and space to try again.
Examples: choosing a role and asking for help.
Responsible citizens
Explore safe choices, care for others and responsibility for our surroundings.
Examples: considering animal welfare and caring for shared spaces.
Effective contributors
Create opportunities to share ideas, work with others and make a useful contribution.
Examples: planning a task together and helping a group project.
Flexible methods, meaningful learning
Building on interests and recognising individual progress.
An original organisational version by Equine Minds CIC. Informed by Education Scotland: Curriculum for Excellence four capacities. Education Scotland: Curriculum for Excellence.
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Your rights at Equine Minds
Our commitments to children and young people. Informed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Be heard
Share your views in a way that works for you. We listen and explain what happens next.
Article 12Be treated fairly
We respect differences and challenge unfair treatment.
Article 2Have support to join in
We plan support so disabled young people can participate with dignity.
Article 23Learn and develop
We build on interests and support learning that develops your abilities.
Articles 28 and 29Play and rest
We make room for play, leisure and breaks within our activities.
Article 31Be protected from harm
We take concerns seriously and follow our safeguarding procedures.
Article 19
Your views matter
You can ask for help to share an idea or raise a concern.
An original organisational version by Equine Minds CIC. Informed by Scottish Government UNCRC guidance (UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024); articles 2, 12, 19, 23, 28, 29 and 31.
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Nature, learning and community
Our Learning for Sustainability commitments. For our planned outdoor and community provision.
Curriculum
Explore nature, food, resources and how our choices affect people and the planet.
Planned examples: growing projects and biodiversity learning.
Campus
Use our future site to support nature and reduce avoidable waste.
Planned examples: accessible growing spaces and habitat care.
Culture
Listen to learners and make caring, fair choices part of everyday activities.
Planned examples: shared decisions and respectful use of resources.
Community
Work with others on local projects and explore our connections with the wider world.
Planned examples: sharing produce and community learning.
Learning in, through and about the outdoors
Connecting practical learning with care for people and nature.
An original organisational version by Equine Minds CIC. Informed by Education Scotland: Learning for Sustainability and Target 2030, and the sustainable learning settings practitioner guide.
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Community learning at Equine Minds
Our commitments across ages. Informed by Community Learning and Development values.
Self-determination
Support people to make informed choices about their learning.
Inclusion
Identify unnecessary barriers and plan practical ways to remove them.
Empowerment
Help learners influence the activities and decisions that affect them.
Working collaboratively
Plan and learn with participants, families and community partners.
Lifelong learning
Offer relevant learning opportunities at different stages of life.
Learning shaped with people
Interests, participation and opportunities at different life stages.
An original organisational version by Equine Minds CIC. Informed by CLD Standards Council Scotland: Values of CLD. CLD Standards Council Scotland: Values of CLD.
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Learning and work at Equine Minds
Our planned learning and work pathways. Person-centred support for young people and adults.
Explore interests
Start with what matters to the learner and discuss what they want to try.
Build useful skills
Practise communication, practical tasks and skills relevant to their goals.
Try practical roles
Offer supported practice and explore work experience where available.
Recognise progress
Record what the learner can do and the support that helps them succeed.
Choose a next step
Explore suitable opportunities and agree support for the next move.
Choose a next step that fits
Learning, volunteering, further training or work.
An original organisational version by Equine Minds CIC. Informed by the Career Education Standard (3-18) from Education Scotland, and No One Left Behind from the Scottish Government.
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Support at Equine Minds
Our commitments to safer participation. Informed by Scotland's National Trauma Transformation Programme.
Safety
Plan safer activities and agree what helps each learner feel supported.
Trust
Explain what to expect, including confidentiality and its safety limits.
Choice
Offer appropriate ways to join in, take breaks and ask for support.
Collaboration
Make decisions with learners and explain any safety boundaries.
Empowerment
Build on strengths and support learners to influence their own progress.
Clear expectations and supported choices
You do not need to share difficult experiences to take part.
An original organisational version by Equine Minds CIC. Informed by the National Trauma Transformation Programme: five key principles. National Trauma Transformation Programme.