Behind every percentage is a young person who came in struggling and left something different. Gathered directly from young people — July 2024 to June 2025.
Drawn directly from feedback gathered from the young people themselves.
SENCOs feel it. Headteachers and business managers need to see it in pounds and percentages.
| The Problem Left Unaddressed | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Persistent absence (10+ days) | £1,000–£3,000+ per pupil |
| Fixed-term exclusion | ~£900 per pupil direct costs |
| Permanent exclusion | £15,000–£20,000 tribunal & AP |
| SENCO crisis management | Hours weekly that early support prevents |
| CAMHS referral to appointment | 18+ week average wait |
Sources: Persistent absence costs — DfE/Welsh Government attendance guidance & LGA analysis. Exclusion costs — DfE "Timpson Review of School Exclusion" (2019) & IFS research. Permanent exclusion — National Audit Office "Alternative Provision" report. CAMHS wait times — NHS Digital CYPMHS data & Children's Commissioner annual reports. Figures are indicative estimates based on published sector research.
Partner schools consistently report improvements in attendance among programme participants.
Early intervention prevents escalation cycles that lead to fixed-term and permanent exclusions.
When young people are better regulated, your SENCO and pastoral team spend less time in crisis management.
These anonymised case studies show how relational, animal-assisted support reaches young people who struggle to engage with traditional provision.
S, a 16-year-old supported by TACT Fostering, faced educational struggles, social difficulties, anxiety and negative coping mechanisms. The work focused on wellbeing, resilience, engagement, independence and communication.
"If you deliver support in the right way, you can motivate and engage young people and turn their lives around."
Scott Ruddock, TACT Director for Health & Education"The most important aspect is the relationship she has built with Jess. We can only speak really highly of the Baxter Project and the help it has given."
Paul & Aly, Foster Carers"The Baxter Project is an innovative way of working with young people who find traditional services such as CAMHS difficult to engage with. If you deliver support in the right way, you can turn lives around."
"We have observed remarkable transformations in pupil engagement and behaviour. Benefits have been especially evident among our Children Looked After and those with adverse childhood experiences."
"Pupils return from sessions visibly more relaxed and readier to learn. Positive relationships formed facilitate more complex conversations. We have seen an increase in respect between peers and staff."
"The Baxter Project has been the only support received after nothing from CAMHS. It helped open a dialogue with someone they grew to trust — and been a tool for me as a parent to open communication at home."
"It has quickly become an integral part of our wellbeing provision. Not only do students assigned to the project look forward to sessions — so does our wider school community."
"The most important aspect is the relationship she has built with Jess. We can only speak really highly of the Baxter Project — the help it has given has been truly remarkable."
We work with Welsh local authorities and commissioning bodies to deliver provision across multiple schools and settings — with full outcome reporting aligned to strategic wellbeing priorities.
ODISSYS generates termly reports aligned to local authority wellbeing frameworks, ALN strategies, and ESG/TOMs metrics — ready to present to elected members.
We currently operate across 100+ schools and organisations and are actively expanding into North Wales. Commissioned LA-wide provision is available — talk to us about your geography.
Studied by Cardiff University Data Science Academy. Outcomes tracked via SDQ (Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire), SWEMWBS (short wellbeing measure), and resilience scales. We build the evidence base commissioners need to justify continued investment.
30,000+ sessions. 100+ schools and organisations. Outcomes that speak for themselves. The next step is a conversation — no obligation, no pressure.
Our free info pack includes the full data picture, case studies and business case.
