The Ethereal Learning Foundation
Meeting them where they are
A play-based, project-based learning community for home-educated children and their families, built on The SELF Approach™.
Who we are
A community group with 40 years of experience behind it
The Ethereal Learning Foundation (ELF) is a constituted community group, established in January 2021. Our aim is to provide engaging, relevant and transformative community support that builds awareness of healthy living environments and behaviours.
In 2024 we opened the ELF Learning Provision, giving home-educated children and their families an alternative pathway to education.
Our culturally diverse team works with communities, families and young people to bring about change. Between them, our facilitators have 40 years of experience working with young people with a range of needs.
Our founder, Deb Haddon, has a background in teaching and facilitating learning, along with her own journey of personal development. She plans and runs the learning environment, bringing warmth, understanding and calm energy to build trust, safety and secure relationships.
What we do
Learning for home-educated children
A regular learning provision where home-educated children learn alongside each other.
Support for parents
A community of support for parents who home educate.
Whole-child development
A focus on holistic, personal development through The SELF Approach™.
Self-directed learning
Children lead their own learning, supported by trained staff and volunteers.
Our philosophy
The SELF Approach™
Developed by our founder, Deb Haddon, The SELF Approach™ looks at physical, mental and emotional health, how the three work together, and how keeping them in balance helps each of us. It also explores our connection and relationships with other people.
Awareness
Of ourselves and how we feel.
Relationship
With ourselves and with others.
Understanding
Of how body, mind and emotions connect.
Connection
To other people and our community.
What it looks like in our sessions
- Exploring who we are: self-belief, self-esteem and self-worth
- A creative approach to the curriculum through project-based learning
- Solution-focused problem solving
- Core life skills: resilience, critical thinking and communication
- A unique learning journey for every child
- Learning how we learn (metacognition)
- Healthy relationships with ourselves and others
- Emotional awareness and responsive conflict resolution
- Sustainability for ourselves, our relationships, community and planet
- Linking learning to everyday life
- Self-evaluation and reflection
- Fun, engagement and enjoyment
Join us
Book a session
Our sessions for home-educated children (ages 4 to 12 for ELF Together, 6 to 10 for ELF Life) run at St Mary's Church Family Centre, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 8HJ. Parents book in the ELF app, where you can see how many places are left and manage your bookings.
Wednesdays and Thursdays
ELF Together
We focus on play-based and project-based learning. Activities are set up, but it is very much child-directed learning. There is usually a theme that we cover, like patterns and different countries. There is no formal teaching, but we incorporate maths, English, science and more into everything we do, with a particular focus on personal development.
We recommend coming for a visit initially, for about an hour, just to meet the staff and see the session running.
- When
- 9:00am to 2:00pm
- Cost
- £15 per child, per session, rising to £20 from 13 January 2027
- Places
- Up to 20 children per session, aged 4 to 12
2nd and 4th Fridays
ELF Life
Four one-hour umbrella sessions, the same four every ELF Life day. Book the hours you want, or the whole day.
- STEM & Problem Solving (9:00 to 10:00am)
- Emotions & Feelings (10:15 to 11:15am)
- Storytelling in Nature (11:30am to 12:30pm)
- Creative Expression (1:00 to 2:00pm)
- Starts
- Friday 13 November 2026. Booking opens soon in the ELF app.
- When
- The 2nd and 4th Friday of every month, 9:00am to 2:00pm
- Cost
- £8 per hour, or £30 for the full day including lunch (12:30 to 1:00pm)
- Places
- Up to 10 children per session, aged 6 to 10
What They Say
Don’t just take our word for it
Kind words from the children and families who are part of ELF.
In their own words
What the children say
We asked the children what they think of ELF. Here's what they told us.
I love coming to ELF because I get to do things with my friends.
We get to play and learn all at the same time.
When I first came I was nervous but it’s really good at ELF.
We do lots of different activities: painting, games, experiments, crafts, outdoor things, Lego… there’s lots to do!
I like it here because we get to play outside with friends.
I would come every day if I could.
Deb makes us laugh and she’s always there to help us with everything.
At lunchtime I can sit with all my friends.
We do things like being kind, getting confident, having a go at things, doing activities with other people and we learn about ourselves.
I can have drinks and snacks whenever I want.
From our families
What parents say
“Whatever Deb does for the children here at ELF: it’s like some kind of magic!”
What we've been up to
Latest from ELF
See what the children have been learning, making and exploring, on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Get in touch
Questions about sessions, The SELF Approach or volunteering? We'd love to hear from you.