When kids struggle to get through a full school day, what options do families have? It’s a question I recently discussed with Dylan Blackley, owner of Support & Connect, who’s been quietly working on an innovative solution right here in the Riverland.
Over the past six months, Dylan and his team have been trialing something called ALPS – Adaptive Learning Pathways in Schools – with St. Joseph’s School Renmark. The results have been so promising that they’re now ready to offer this program to other schools and families across our region.
What is ALPS?
“ALPS stands for Adaptive Learning Pathways in Schools,” Dylan explained during our chat. “When I say ‘in schools,’ it actually means outside of schools. We have our mentors that come and pick up clients that cannot get through a school day.”
The program is designed for children who become overwhelmed in traditional classroom settings, often kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other developmental needs who struggle with sensory issues and long school days.
Instead of forcing these children to endure hours of stress in an environment that isn’t working for them, ALPS offers an alternative. Trained mentors collect students from school and take them to community spaces or Support & Connect’s hub for specialised learning activities.
More Than Just Getting Out of Class
Dylan was quick to clarify what ALPS isn’t. “It’s not a babysitting thing. I’ve always wanted to make sure I highlight that,” he said. “It’s getting them out of school and getting them to learn in a different way on things that they do definitely need learning, but not on an academic level.”
So what does this different kind of learning look like?

Rather than focusing on traditional subjects, ALPS works on practical life skills that many children with additional needs find challenging:
- Road awareness and safety
- Learning how to handle losing a game
- Emotional regulation techniques
- Identifying personal triggers and coping strategies
- Fine motor skills development
- Balance and coordination
Support & Connect’s Recreation Hub now features a specially designed soft play area with trampolines, rock climbing walls, and balance beams. “There’s some really cool things there that we can work on, more of a capacity building sort of sense,” Dylan noted.
Learning Without Knowing It
What makes ALPS particularly effective is its approach to education. “Sometimes, most of the times, the kids don’t even know they’re learning,” Dylan shared. “With us, it’s like hiding the veggies in the mashed potato, I like to say.”
This play-based learning philosophy means children develop crucial skills while having fun. They’re not sitting at desks feeling frustrated – they’re actively engaged in activities that build their capabilities naturally.
“It’s so cool to see how much fun these kids are having, and then I’m like, ‘Oh, they don’t know how much they’re actually learning,'” Dylan explained.
Real Results from St. Joseph’s Renmark Trial
The six-month trial at St. Joseph’s Renmark has exceeded everyone’s expectations. Dylan recently met with the school principal for a progress report, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Both him and I are really, really happy. The teacher is really happy, mum’s happy,” Dylan said. “We’ve been really transparent.”
The program includes monthly progress reports that teachers and parents can access. These reports detail what students have worked on during their ALPS sessions, and teachers can add their own observations and suggestions.
This collaborative approach ensures everyone – mentors, teachers, and families – are working together toward the same goals.
Who Can Access ALPS?
The program is designed to be flexible and accessible. Some students might leave school just for lunchtime, while others might need longer sessions depending on their individual needs.
ALPS operates primarily as one-on-one mentoring, though Dylan mentioned they can accommodate small groups when appropriate. “If we’ve got two clients that do want a one-to-two ratio, we can do something like that as well.”
Funding can come through various sources:
- NDIS funding for eligible participants
- School wellbeing funding pools
- Other support funding options

Looking Ahead: Expanding ALPS
While St. Joseph’s Renmark was the first school to embrace ALPS, Dylan has been speaking with other educators and coordinators across the region. “I’ve spoken to a lot of teachers and principals already,” he said. “I’ve spoken to the wellbeing coordinator for Riverland and he really is excited about this as well.”
The demand is clearly there. Many schools are recognising that some students simply can’t function in traditional classroom environments for entire days. Rather than accepting this as an insurmountable problem, forward-thinking educators are looking for alternatives.
“You can’t just live in the old days and go, ‘Oh, well, they just have to stay at school,'” Dylan observed. “If they’re not learning anything at school, they’re just there. It’s great for their social aspect, but if they’re still struggling and getting overwhelmed, then let’s get them out.”
A Program Built on Experience
What impressed me most about ALPS is how thoughtfully it’s been developed. This isn’t a rushed launch – Dylan and his team have spent months working out the practical details, addressing challenges, and refining their approach.
“I want this to be successful. I don’t want it just to be a babysitting program,” Dylan emphasised.
The program also complements Support & Connect’s other services. If a child in ALPS might benefit from counselling or other support, appropriate recommendations can be made to families.
Getting Involved
For school wellbeing coordinators, teachers, or families interested in learning more about ALPS, Support & Connect is ready to discuss how the program might work for your situation.
The beauty of ALPS lies in its adaptability, it can be tailored to meet individual needs while providing the structure and support that helps children thrive.
As Dylan put it, “It’s adaptive learning. It can be altered, but the whole outlook of it and what the program stands for is making sure that they’re learning, they’re still learning, and it’s adaptive to whatever the client needs.”
If you’d like to know more about ALPS or discuss whether it might be right for a child in your care, reach out to Support & Connect. Sometimes the best learning happens when we think outside the traditional classroom.