Academics at their level
Personalised English, literacy, mathematics, science, humanities, technology and project-based learning. Students work at their actual level in each subject rather than being pushed ahead or held back according to age.
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The Winta's Place curriculum
Education for the whole human — not just the report card.
Our holistic curriculum brings together personalised academics, emotional development, life skills, communication, health, movement, nature, creativity, community and passion-led learning. Every student learns at their own level, in their own way, with the support and space they need to grow.
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Introduction
A more human approach to education.
Children are whole human beings before they are students.
Their ability to learn is shaped by how safe they feel, how regulated their nervous system is, whether they feel accepted, how well they can communicate, whether they have meaningful relationships and whether learning connects to their interests and real life.
At Winta's Place, education is not limited to sitting at a desk, memorising information or keeping pace with an age-based timetable.
We teach academics at each student's actual level while helping them understand themselves, communicate with others, care for their body, regulate their emotions, develop independence, discover their strengths and build a life in which they can genuinely participate.
We are not removing academics. We are placing academics inside a complete education for life.
The curriculum framework
The whole child is the curriculum.
Each area below forms part of the core Winta's Place holistic curriculum — the shared foundation of our alternative education and specialist learning classes. These are not occasional activities or optional extras. Together, they create each student's Individual Learning Plan, weekly rhythm, personal goals and measures of progress.
Emotional support and intelligence
Students learn to recognise emotions, understand what they are feeling, express themselves safely, develop confidence and work through challenges with trusted adults.
Life skills and coaching
Cooking, money, planning, organisation, routines, decision-making, self-care, safety and practical independence are taught as essential parts of education.
Communication
Students develop the skills to express their needs, listen, hold conversations, resolve misunderstandings, advocate for themselves and build healthy relationships.
Self-regulation
Students learn practical ways to understand their nervous system, manage overwhelm, reduce anxiety, navigate frustration and return to a calm state where learning becomes possible.
Community and connection
Friendship, teamwork, belonging, cooperation and participation in the wider community are practised through genuine relationships and real shared experiences.
Nature and adventure
Bali becomes part of the classroom through gardens, farms, waterfalls, village walks, outdoor projects, cultural experiences and time spent learning in nature.
Fitness and movement
Daily movement, fitness, yoga, coordination, strength, games and outdoor activity support physical health, concentration, confidence and nervous-system regulation.
Music, art and culture
Music, art, drama, dance, craft and Balinese culture give students different ways to communicate, create, participate and discover their abilities.
Passion-led learning
Every student has interests, gifts and areas of deep curiosity. Passion projects turn these interests into meaningful learning, confidence, skills and possible future pathways.
Diet and nutrition
Healthy meals, food education, gardening, cooking and understanding how food affects energy, mood and wellbeing help students develop a positive relationship with their body and health.
How learning is personalised
One curriculum. A different pathway for every child.
- Every student has an Individual Learning Plan written around who they are and where they are now.
- Students can be working at different levels across different subjects and developmental areas.
- Goals include academic, emotional, social, communication, physical, health, life-skill and independence outcomes.
- Progress is measured against the student's own starting point, not against the class or the calendar.
- Teachers use interests and strengths to create genuine engagement.
- Learning can happen through written work, technology, conversation, movement, projects, practical activities and real-world experiences.
- Parents stay informed through the parent–teacher progress system.
- Plans are reviewed and adjusted as the student grows.
Children do not all need the same education. They need the right education.
Our two learning programs
Two programs. One holistic curriculum.
Thrive and Rise share the same whole-child philosophy and curriculum areas. The difference is the level, pace, learning goals and amount of support provided.
Thrive
Alternative Learning Program
Our mainstream alternative education class. For children and teens following a mainstream-style or internationally recognised academic curriculum who want a smaller, calmer, more nourishing holistic school — with extra or more personalised learning support where they need it.
Thrive may suit students who:
- Are mainstream learners who want a smaller, calmer, more nourishing holistic education
- Feel overwhelmed in large schools or classrooms
- Need extra or more personalised learning support to keep moving forward
- Have experienced bullying, exclusion or a loss of confidence
- Experience anxiety, school avoidance or academic pressure
- Are sensitive to noise, crowds, pressure or overstimulation
- Need greater emotional support and coaching
- Learn better through flexibility, practical experiences and personal interests
- Want to learn but no longer feel safe, understood or motivated at school
- Need a more holistic and human approach to education
Curriculum emphasis
- Academics at the student's level
- Emotional intelligence and confidence
- Communication and relationships
- Self-regulation
- Life skills and independence
- Fitness, health and nutrition
- Nature and community learning
- Creativity and passion-led projects
Thrive is not about lowering a child's potential. It is about creating the conditions in which their potential can finally emerge.
Rise
Specialist Learning Program
Our special needs classes. For children and teens with developmental, intellectual or more complex learning needs — including autism and ADHD with higher support needs — who require greater individualisation, repetition, structure and specialist support.
Rise may suit students who:
- Have developmental delays or mild-to-moderate intellectual learning needs
- Are working below age-related academic or developmental expectations
- Need functional and highly personalised academics
- Require more help with communication, regulation or social development
- Need additional support with routines, independence and daily living skills
- Have autism with moderate support needs
- Have Down syndrome, global developmental delay or other neurodevelopmental conditions
- Can participate in a small peer group with the right support
- Benefit from practical, visual, repeated and hands-on teaching
Curriculum emphasis
- Functional and personalised academics
- Communication
- Emotional and sensory regulation
- Social development
- Daily living and independence
- Health, nutrition and movement
- Community participation
- Creativity, interests and personal strengths
Rise begins with each student's current abilities and builds meaningful progress, confidence, independence and connection from there.
What progress really means
Success will not look the same for every student.
For one student, success may mean rediscovering a love of learning after anxiety or bullying. For another, it may mean reading independently, preparing a meal, expressing a need, regulating a difficult emotion or confidently joining a group.
Both forms of progress matter.
We do not compare children to one another or define their worth through academic performance alone. We identify the next meaningful step for each student and help them reach it.
A week of holistic learning
How the curriculum weaves through a week.
An illustrative rhythm rather than a fixed timetable — the balance shifts with each group, each student's plan and what the week calls for.
Monday
- Move, meditate and motivate
- Personalised academics
- Communication circle
- Life-skills practice
Tuesday
- Personalised academics
- Fitness and yoga
- Cooking and nutrition
- Reflection and goal tracking
Wednesday
- Nature and village learning
- Community outing
- Emotional-learning circle
- Passion projects
Thursday
- Personalised academics
- Art, music and culture
- Movement and games
- Life-skills practice
Friday
- Passion projects
- Cooking and shared lunch
- Community and connection
- Reflection and goal tracking
Across a term, students also take part in nature and adventure days, cultural experiences, community outings and longer passion projects. You can see how a typical school day is structured on our programs page.
How progress is measured
Progress you can see — and growth you can feel.
We track development across the whole child, not one column of grades.
- Academic learning
- Emotional awareness
- Self-regulation
- Communication
- Social connection
- Life skills
- Independence
- Physical wellbeing
- Confidence
- Engagement
- Passion and personal goals
Individual Learning Plans and goals
Each student's plan sets out their current level, their next meaningful steps and the milestones we are working towards together across every curriculum area.
Updates parents can actually follow
Milestones, teacher notes, photos and goal progress reach you through the parent–teacher app and regular reviews, so you always know what your child is working on and why.
What would the right education make possible for your child?
Whether your child needs a calmer alternative to mainstream school or a more specialist level of learning support, we begin by understanding who they are, where they are now and what meaningful progress could look like for them.
You can also read more about our approach, the place itself or how admissions work.