The Nest at The Magpie Centre – Therapeutic Learning in a Unique Environment
At The Magpie Centre, we understand that mainstream education isn’t the right fit for every student. Many children face challenges such as social anxiety, neurodiversity, life experiences, mental health, and well-being concerns, which can impact their ability to thrive in traditional classroom settings. That’s why we created The Nest – a therapeutic learning suite designed to offer a child-led, supportive approach to education.
A Unique Learning Experience
Life at The Magpie Centre is relaxed, flexible, and guided by each child’s needs. Learning takes place in a calm and nurturing environment, surrounded by our beautiful equines, who provide companionship, emotional support, and opportunities for skill-building. Whether it’s a quiet moment spent grooming a horse or simply enjoying their presence, our animals play a key role in creating a tranquil and engaging atmosphere.
Learning Through Experience
Every day at The Nest is different, allowing students to explore activities that interest them. This hands-on approach to learning can include:
- Cooking – Developing independence and life skills.
- Gardening – Connecting with nature and understanding responsibility.
- Arts and crafts – Encouraging creativity and self-expression.
- Equine care – Building empathy, responsibility, and self-regulation.
Through working with our horses, students learn valuable lessons in communication, patience, and respect. The equines respond to calmness and attentiveness, reinforcing important social and emotional skills that benefit students beyond their time at The Magpie Centre.
Tailored Educational Support
We can adapt our sessions to complement the national curriculum or focus on alternative learning pathways. As an ASDAN-registered centre, we offer short courses for students aged 13 and above, covering topics such as:
- English and Maths progress acceleration
- Gardening and sustainability
- Cooking and nutrition
- Life skills and independence
With a variety of teaching spaces – from our cabin classroom to the sensory garden, acres of woodland, and even our pony classroom – learning at The Nest is an immersive experience like no other.
Flexible Learning Options
We offer hourly sessions, which can be booked from one to fifteen hours per week, depending on availability.
Cost: £50 per hour (includes refreshments).
Discover The Nest at The Magpie Centre
If you’re looking for a supportive, engaging, and therapeutic learning environment, The Nest at The Magpie Centre could be the perfect fit. Contact us today to learn more about our approach and availability.
Please reach out to us with any questions or to book your session: thenestmagpiecentre@hotmail.com




Student Story:
“My son James has been attending The Magpie Centre since around October 2024.
James found school incredibly challenging and had difficultly in attending. Since joining The Nest, he has become more confident, has made friends and been able to learn new skills.
This has been down to the kindness shown by both Emma and Krystal, both of whom James has connected with and more importantly feels so at ease with them, he is now happy for me to leave him – which is something he had feared doing.
Amongst many other things, they have taught him what to look out for to tell if a horse maybe in distress or poorly, but equally when a horse is happy.
He loves his time at the centre and I know he would spend all week there if he could. He is so proud telling people that he is now taking part in a photography course, provided for by the centre. He is also so excited about being able to learn to ride a horse and loves taking part in carriage driving.
Having The Nest as part of our weekly routine has been wonderful but having people there that completely understand the struggles James was having, helping him work through them and seeing just how happy he is, means more to us as a family than we can put into words”
Kelly – Norfolk