Admissions & Referrals:

At MIH, we welcome autistic, learning disabled and neurodivergent young people who would benefit from a calm, meaningful and individualised day service.

Families, schools and professionals can refer to us, and we offer a flexible range of attendance options depending on each young person’s needs.

A Bridge to the Next Step

MIH is more than a day service , it is a stepping stone for young people who are preparing for their next phase. Many young people who attend MIH go on to:

• return to or re engage with education
• move into supported living
• develop the skills needed for semi independent life
• explore volunteering or community-based opportunities
• prepare for adulthood with greater confidence

Our focus on life skills, emotional well being and meaningful routines helps each young person build at their own pace, with support that grows alongside them.

This page explains how to access MIH, who can attend, and how support packages work.

---

Who Can Attend MIH?

Young people can attend MIH through any of the following pathways:

• Direct Payments (DP)
• School or Virtual School referrals
• Professionals (LA’s/NHS) referrals
• Direct Referrals

We support young people who:

• benefit from sensory based, hands on learning
• enjoy outdoor environments
• require a calm, structured and nurturing setting
• need support with independence, well being, social development or alternative learning
• are re engaging with education or require an alternative/supplementary pathway

Support Models

Every young person attends MIH in the way that best suits their support needs.

There are two pathways:

1. Attending With Their Own Personal Assistant (PA)

For young people who require 1:1 (or above) support:

• The young person attends MIH with their own PA, Agency Carer
• The PA/Agency is funded through Local Authority funding, Direct Payments or a personal budget
• MIH provides the environment, structure, programme and activities
• The PA provides individual support, regulation and personal care
• PA supported young people can attend between 45 and 49 weeks depending on the DP package agreed with their local authority

This model allows high needs young people to access MIH safely and meaningfully while maintaining appropriate support.

2. Attending as Part of a Small Group

For young people who do not require 1:1 support, MIH provides:

• Small, supportive groups led by MIH Coordinators
• A mixture of active, sensory and structured sessions
• A consistent daily timetable within a calm, rural environment
• Opportunities for life skills, well being and social development

Group placements operate on a 45 week package, which includes:

• Standard MIH closure periods (February Half Term and Christmas and New Year)
• Continued activities during 2 weeks at Easter + 4 weeks in summer
• The same structured breaks used by our existing groups

Group sessions offer a consistent routine while maintaining flexibility around individual needs.

How Many Weeks We Are Open

MIH operates 49 weeks per year, with a 3 week closure built in for:

• staff development
• essential maintenance
• safe environmental management
• planned breaks for young people and families

This structure supports consistency while allowing families and PAs to align attendance to their own schedules.

Hours of Attendance

MIH provides a structured daily timetable from:

9:30am – 3.00pm

How to Refer

Referrals can be made by:

• Parents/carers
• Schools or Virtual Schools
• Social workers or professionals
• PAs supporting a young person through Direct Payments

To begin the process:

Complete our Admissions & Referral Form

We will then arrange:

• A visit to MIH
• An Assessment of needs
• Trial sessions (where appropriate)
• Confirmation of funding route & support model
• Agreement of planned attendance package

Questions or Advice?

We are always happy to talk through the process, support funding conversations, and help families understand which model may be the best fit.