Big Dream Programme
supporting under-resourced families to make progress and unlock the joy of learning.
A message from our founder
“Since we launched our tuition business in 2001, we’ve set out to support as many children as possible with their education. Not only have we helped hundreds of thousands of young people to achieve their learning goals, we have coached them to develop a life-long love of learning. We want all children to dream bigger, have their individual needs met and discover the joy of learning. Our Big Dream Programme is about offering even more access for disadvantaged children to experience the benefits of Explore Learning tuition.”
Bill Mills, CEO and Founder, Explore Learning.
View our programme in action
How are we putting this into action?
School Partnerships
Funded by trusts and donors
We deliver tuition to cohorts of school children in areas where families may not be able to access tuition due to social or economic reasons. We share the cost of tuition 50:50 with funders to help children meet their individual needs and unlock the joy of learning.
Buttle UK
Chances for Children Grants
We've partnered with Buttle UK to share the cost of tuition provision 50:50 for vulnerable children. We offer a flexible, hassle-free opportunity for families in crisis to benefit from our unbeatable support.
Refugee Education UK
12-Month Memberships
We offer year-long fully subsidised tuition for families working with our partners, Refugee Education. We want to help remove barriers to education for refugee families who want to build a positive future.
Our impact
We're proud of what we are achieving and what's to come in the future.
6240+ hours tutoring under-resourced children
280 children supported throughout 2023
500+ children - our aim over the next 2 years
What do our Big Dream Programme Partners say?
Explore Learning has proved to be the perfect partner to support us with our goals. It's been an amazing experience for us to see our children grow. More than anything, the children really enjoy and look forward to it. We've had amazing SATs results this year which shows that this partnership is working.
Hamza, Year 6 Teacher, Horton Primary School (Exceed Academies Trust)
Explore Learning represents a really exciting partnership model, one where the private sector can help by reducing their prices for vulnerable children, young people and their families, whilst Buttle UK uses its expertise and systems to ensure that this offer is reaching those that can benefit from it most. Together we are helping to level the playing field.
Joseph Howes, CEO Buttle UK
The Big Dream Programme has enabled REUK to enhance the support we provide refugee students as they settle in the UK. The safe, encouraging environment and the care of the staff have been not just a place of learning but also a sanctuary. The young people enjoy having a place where they are not afraid to make mistakes. The patience of the staff means they can ask questions they are often afraid to ask in a classroom. All of this makes it possible for them to catch up on missed education.
Niwaeli Sumary, Education Welcome Project Manager, Refugee Education UK (REUK)
Want to make a difference through our Big Dream Programme?
Are you a trust, donor or charity?
Education Investor Awards 2019 WINNER
Over 1000 5 ★ reviews on Trust Pilot
20 years of success
Education Investor Awards 2019 WINNER
Over 1000 5 ★ reviews on Trust Pilot
20 years of success
Education Investor Awards 2019 WINNER
Over 1000 5 ★ reviews on Trust Pilot
20 years of success
FAQs
What's the qualifying criteria to be part of the Big Dream Programme?
In order to be part of the programme, we want to be sure that our service is reaching families who otherwise would not be able to access any form of private tuition for social or economic reasons. The best measure of this is usually that a family would be eligible for Free School Meals. However, there may be other factors that we would also consider.
How does a charity get involved?
If a charity works with families or children that are under-resourced or experiencing hardship in some way, we'd recommend that they get in touch about their needs and how Explore might be able to help. Get in touch with us.
I am a teacher or work in a school, what options are available?
We can't join individual children to Explore membership, but welcome groups of 5 or more pupils that you wish to use funding to pay for Explore Learning tuition. This would be at our standard membership price and not part of the Big Dream Programme, unless paid for by a philanthropic partner or charity.
I'm an individual donor or trust who wants to pay for children to have educational support.
We are very happy to hear from any individual who may be part of a charitable trust, who wants to have an impact on a large group of children. We currently have partners who pay for 15-60 school children to receive online or in-centre tuition, targeting schools and areas where families do not have the resources or financial means for additional tuition. Get in touch with us.
How and where does the tuition take place?
Some children have their tuition entirely online, which allows us to reach families all across the UK. Other children visit on of our 95 tuition centres in the UK. If children are part of the Big Dream Programme through a school cohort, this might be delivered in school time or just after school either online or in one of our centres.
