Gather & Grow

About Gather & Grow

Gather & Grow is a home education hive for children and young people aged 4-16, offering child-led, play-led, and creativity-led learning with wellbeing at the heart.

In small, nurturing groups, we welcome home educated children and young people, as well as those not accessing school, providing a safe, low-pressure environment where they can be themselves.

We also run after school sessions with the same ethos, including Music Play and The Self Love Club for girls.

Our motto is simple: a place to belong and blossom. That’s exactly what Gather & Grow is; no pressure, no rush, just gentle guidance and encouragement. Here, children’s confidence grows from the inside out, and their spark gets to shine a little brighter every day.

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Gather & Grow's Story

Nu is a qualified art teacher who spent three years in mainstream education. She adored her pupils and loved teaching art, but the pressure of the system meant she couldn’t show up for them the way she wanted to. So she left, and spent the next part of her career mentoring children who, for all sorts of reasons, weren’t able to access mainstream education.

That work changed her. She saw first-hand how easily children can slip through the gaps of a system that wasn’t built to fit everyone, and it planted a dream: to create a space where every child and every family belongs. Somewhere they can just be themselves.

Elliot is a musician and creative practitioner who brings just as much energy to the sessions as the children do. Guitar in hand or in full play mode, he’s completely in the moment with them. Both Nu and Elliot are neurodivergent themselves, and that shared understanding shapes everything about what they’ve built together.

The two of them have been visiting Glebe Farm every year to celebrate Nu’s birthday since moving to Congleton in 2022. So when the time came to find a home for their idea, this was the only place that ever felt right.

Gather & Grow is a child-led creative arts and play-based space for children who are home educated or not in mainstream education, aged 4 to 16. Sessions include drop off, parent and child, Elliot’s very popular guitar and music lessons, after school Arty Club for ages 5 to 9, Self Love & Creative Club for girls aged 9 to 16, and bespoke one-to-one SEND sessions built entirely around the child, with the time and space to build a real, trusting relationship at their own pace.

Opening hours

Pre-booking is required. Sessions Vary.

Monday: 9am – 5pm

Tuesday: 9am – 5pm

Wednesday: 9am – 5pm

Thursday: 9am – 5pm

Friday: 9am -5pm

Saturday: 9am – 5pm

Sunday: Closed

Services

Most days are held in age-specific groups, giving children space that matches their stage and interests.

Wednesdays run a little differently – a mixed-age day for ages 4–16, where younger and older children learn alongside one another, sharing ideas, modelling skills and naturally building a sense of community.

For full details on our services, please see our website

Where to find us

Gather & Grow can be found by the main outdoor seating area, just to the side of the Cafe.