Real Learning,
Through Real Engagement
We embed functional skills, digital literacy, and personal development into gaming activities. It's not a traditional curriculum — it's better. EOTAS compliant and Ofsted inspected.
Refer a StudentThis Is What Learning Looks Like at Player Ready
Students building real games in Unreal Engine 5 — the same tool used to create Fortnite, Final Fantasy, and blockbuster films.
What Is EOTAS?
EOTAS stands for Education Other Than At School. It's the legal framework for educating young people who, for whatever reason, cannot attend a mainstream or special school.
As an EOTAS provider, Player Ready delivers education that meets the student's needs while fulfilling the local authority's duty to provide suitable education. Our approach is personalised — we don't deliver a fixed timetable, but we do ensure every student makes measurable progress in core skills alongside their specialist interests.
We work closely with the referring school or local authority to align our delivery with the student's overall education plan, including any EHCP outcomes.
What Students Learn
Core skills woven through gaming activities — so students learn without realising they're learning.
Functional Maths
Calculating build dimensions in Minecraft, managing in-game economies, measuring angles for construction projects. Maths becomes real and relevant when it has a purpose the student cares about.
Examples: Area & perimeter, coordinates, ratios, budgeting, basic algebra through redstone circuits
Functional English
Writing game guides, creating storylines for game worlds, reading instructions, presenting projects. Literacy develops naturally when students have something they want to communicate.
Examples: Creative writing, instructional text, reading comprehension, verbal presentation
Digital Skills
From basic computer literacy to programming, digital design, and online safety. Every session involves technology, building fluency that opens future pathways.
Examples: Coding (Scratch, Python, Lua), digital art, video editing, file management, online safety
PSHE & Life Skills
Social skills through multiplayer gaming, emotional regulation through structured activities, teamwork through co-op projects. Personal development embedded in every session.
Examples: Communication, teamwork, resilience, decision-making, conflict resolution
Science & Technology
Physics through game mechanics, biology through ecosystem builds, engineering through technical projects. STEM concepts delivered through interactive, hands-on learning.
Examples: Circuits (redstone), ecosystems (biomes), physics (projectile motion), engineering design
Creative Arts
3D modelling, pixel art, texture design, music production, and video creation. Creative expression that builds both technical skills and emotional wellbeing.
Examples: 3D modelling, graphic design, music composition, animation, video production
Soft Skills & Personal Development
The skills that matter most for life beyond school.
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Communication and social interaction
- Resilience and managing frustration
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Time management and planning
- Self-regulation and emotional awareness
- Creativity and original thinking
- Digital citizenship and online safety
How Gaming Maps to Real Learning
Every game mechanic teaches something. Here's what's happening behind the fun.
The Student Thinks They're...
- 1.Building a Minecraft dungeon with custom traps
- 2.Designing a race car in a simulator
- 3.Coding an AI boss fight in Unreal Engine
- 4.Writing a game guide for their Roblox Obby
- 5.3D printing a character they designed in Blender
They're Actually Learning...
- 1.Coordinates, area, logic gates, sequential programming
- 2.Physics, weight distribution, aerodynamics, budgeting
- 3.Behaviour trees, conditional logic, debugging, project management
- 4.Instructional writing, sequencing, audience awareness, presentation
- 5.Spatial reasoning, digital design, mesh geometry, material science
Functional skills in English, Maths, and ICTare embedded in every session — not bolted on as a separate lesson. When a student writes a game guide, they're doing English. When they calculate build dimensions, that's Maths. When they debug their code, that's computational thinking.
From First Session to This
This trailer was made entirely by Player Ready students learning Minecraft modding. Custom mobs, dungeons, traps, and boss battles — all coded from scratch using MCreator and BlockBench.
Most of these students had never written a line of code before joining. Some had been out of education for months. Now they're building things most adults couldn't.
Curriculum Pathways in Detail
From beginner modding to industry-standard game engines. Every pathway builds real skills.
Learning Progression
Minecraft Modding & Game LogicAQA AccreditedAges 8+▼
Our Minecraft curriculum teaches real coding, logic, and digital creativity through modding with MCreator and 3D asset design with BlockBench. Children don't just play Minecraft — they build their own weapons, traps, mobs, and dungeons while learning how to think like a programmer.
Course 1 (Beginner to Intermediate): Custom blocks and lucky traps, weapon crafting and enchantments, structure generation and dungeon design, boss battles with AI, magic items, tools and potions. Culminates in a fully custom Minecraft dungeon.
Course 2 — Time Travel & Animation (Intermediate to Advanced): Time machine GUI design, procedural dimensions (Past, Future, Moon), GeckoLib animated bosses, villages, vehicles, and event-driven coding. Final project: a multi-dimensional boss fight across time.
Course 3 — SPACE (Advanced): Interplanetary engineering across Earth, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Europa. Includes rocket design, fuel systems, low-gravity mechanics, animated molten metals, alien AI, terraforming, and underwater exploration.
What they build: Custom weapons, traps, mobs, dungeons, time machines, animated bosses, rockets, alien worlds, submarines
Perfect for ages 8+. No prior experience needed. AQA Unit Award certification available.
Roblox Studio — Build Your First GameAQA AccreditedAges 8-14▼
A 6-week programme where young learners build a complete Obby (obstacle course game) using Roblox Studio — the same platform behind the world's most popular user-generated games.
Students learn Roblox Studio navigation, object manipulation, game logic and traps (kill bricks, fake platforms, spinning traps), basic scripting with BlockLua, interactive gameplay elements (ladders, slides, disappearing platforms, conveyor belts), physics and animation, and customisation with skyboxes and immersive environments.
What they build: A complete, playable obstacle course game with traps, physics, and custom environments
Beginner level. 6 lessons. Supports progression toward Lua scripting in future courses.
Unreal Engine Game DevelopmentAQA AccreditedAges 14+▼
Learn to build real games using Unreal Engine 5 — the world's most powerful 3D game engine. The same engine behind Fortnite, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and major Hollywood films.
Students create interactive 3D environments and levels, build character movement and logic using Blueprints, develop AI using Behaviour Trees and Perception Systems, design UIs with Unreal Motion Graphics, and package a fully working game for Windows.
What they build: Interactive 3D environments, AI characters, complete packaged games for Windows
No coding experience needed. AQA Unit Award certification across up to 4 modules. Mapped to real-world careers in game design, coding, and interactive media. Ideal for building portfolios, supporting EHCP outcomes, and inspiring future pathways.
Unity Game DevelopmentAQA AccreditedAges 14+▼
Real coding using C#, object-oriented programming, physics, level design, and UI development. Students code player movement, logic and interaction, build playable 2D and 3D games with physics and controls, create object pooling, scoring systems and enemy AI, and debug, test and publish their own games.
What they build: 2D and 3D playable games with physics, scoring systems, enemy AI, menus, and published builds
Ideal for learners aged 14+ who are ready to move into typed coding. AQA Unit Award certification across up to 4 modules. A challenging and rewarding course that equips learners with real-world coding skills.
3D Modelling & Digital DesignAQA AccreditedAges 11+▼
Using Tinkercad, Blender and other creative software, learners explore how 3D assets are made for games, animation and 3D printing. Students build 3D objects, environments and characters, apply materials, lighting and textures, render portfolio-quality images, explore digital sculpting and mesh editing, and prepare models for 3D printing.
What they build: 3D characters, environments, portfolio renders, and physical 3D-printed models
Perfect for artistic or design-oriented learners, especially those in EHCP or AP pathways who benefit from visual learning. No prior experience needed.
LEGO Spike RoboticsAQA AccreditedAges 9+▼
Build and code real robots using LEGO Spike Prime kits. Students build robots with motors, sensors and LEGO components, program movement, reactions and logic, complete robotics challenges and obstacle courses, and record learning through videos, journals and photos.
What they build: Working robots with motors, sensors, programmed movement, and obstacle-course navigation
No prior coding required. In-venue delivery only with fully equipped robotics kits. Supports teamwork, sequencing and logical thinking. Especially powerful for group learning, AP settings or SEND environments that benefit from tactile, collaborative approaches.
Pit Crew Pro: Virtual Car EngineeringAges 13+▼
Using Automation and BeamNG.drive, learners explore how vehicles are designed, tested and pushed to their limits. Students build and customise virtual cars from the chassis up, explore engine performance, weight distribution and aerodynamics, simulate crashes, safety tests and race conditions, and learn STEM concepts through engineering challenges.
What they build: Custom vehicles from chassis up, crash-tested and race-optimised through real physics simulation
Ideal for learners who love speed, mechanics or problem-solving. Mapped to careers in motorsport, mechanical engineering and game design.
Minecraft Education EditionAQA AccreditedAges 9-14▼
Lessons mapped to real-world subjects using Minecraft Education Edition. Students use code blocks or Python to automate and explore, build historical landmarks, science experiments and engineering challenges, tackle real-world issues like climate change and digital ethics, and present work using screen recordings and reflections.
What they build: Historical landmarks, science experiments, engineering projects, and coded automations
Runs on most devices. Perfect for KS2/KS3, SEND learners, or digital literacy goals. Ideal entry point for younger learners in AP or enrichment settings. Makes learning engaging, creative and flexible across subjects.
Post-16 NOCN QualificationsOfqual RegulatedAges 16-25▼
As an officially approved NOCN Centre, Player Ready delivers Ofqual-regulated qualifications for learners aged 16-25. NOCN is a nationally recognised awarding body trusted by schools, colleges, and training providers across the UK.
Accreditation: NOCN Entry Level Award in Skills for Employment, Training & Personal Development (SETPD) at Entry 3, Level 1, Level 2 & Level 3 — available at award, certificate & diploma levels.
Typical units include: Personal Learning Goals, Employability Skills, Teamwork, Digital Skills for Work, Community & Independence.
Assessment: Project artefacts, reflective logs, mentor observations, attendance & engagement data. No exams — evidence-based portfolio assessment.
Progression: Further education, college, traineeships, supported employment, or entrepreneurship in creative and tech industries.
Students need a minimum of 6 hours per week. Immediate start available with duration tailored to learner goals. EHCP-friendly with safeguarding-led scheduling.
AQA Centre Number: 84612 | NOCN Centre Number: 12116
Impact & Outcomes
What actually changes when a young person joins Player Ready.
For Students
- Re-engagement with education through highly motivating, mastery-based learning
- Improved attendance, routines and self-regulation
- Measurable progress in functional skills (English, Maths, ICT)
- AQA Unit Awards and NOCN qualifications as tangible achievements
- Portfolios of real work they can show colleges and employers
- Confidence, social skills, and a sense of belonging
For Schools & LAs
- Session-level tracking with attendance and engagement data
- Half-termly progress reports aligned to ILP and EHCP outcomes
- Rapid communication on any risk or attendance changes
- Attendance at TAFs, annual reviews, and EHCP planning meetings
- Evidence of progress via ILPs, session notes, project artefacts and awards
- Clear pathways to FE, apprenticeships, or digital employment
Accreditation & Quality Assurance
AQA
Unit Award Scheme
Centre 84612
NOCN
Approved Centre
Centre 12116
Ofsted
Registered Provider
Inspected & LA Quality Assured
Curriculum FAQ
Is this a proper curriculum or just gaming?▼
It's a structured, EOTAS-compliant curriculum delivered through gaming and technology. Every session embeds functional skills (maths, English, digital literacy) and personal development within activities the student enjoys. We are Ofsted registered and our curriculum is reviewed as part of Local Authority quality assurance processes.
Can my child gain formal qualifications?▼
Yes. Students can achieve AQA Unit Awards across all our curriculum areas. Post-16 students (aged 16+) can work towards NOCN accredited qualifications in Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development at Entry Level 3 through Level 3 — these are Ofqual-regulated and nationally recognised.
How does the curriculum support EHCP outcomes?▼
All sessions are mapped to individual learning outcomes and can be aligned with EHCP targets. We track progress against agreed outcomes through session notes, half-termly reports, and project evidence. We attend annual reviews and contribute formal evidence of progress.
What age range is the curriculum designed for?▼
Our curriculum spans ages 7 to 25. Younger learners (7-10) typically start with Minecraft Education Edition and LEGO Robotics. Pre-teens and teens (10-16) progress through Minecraft modding, Roblox Studio, and introductory game engines. Post-16 learners (16-25) work with Unity, Unreal Engine, and industry-standard tools, often working towards formal qualifications.
Can sessions be delivered online?▼
Yes. Where appropriate, we deliver our curriculum remotely using Zoom or Teams, combined with remote access to our specialist software via Parsec. This is ideal for learners with medical needs, anxiety, or those transitioning back to in-person education. Online delivery is 1:1 only — group sessions are in-venue.
How is this different from mainstream school IT lessons?▼
We use industry-standard tools — Unreal Engine 5, Unity, Blender, MCreator — not watered-down educational software. Our students build real, working games and applications. Every session is personalised around the student's interests, not a fixed timetable. And because we embed English, Maths, and ICT within creative projects, students learn functional skills without the resistance that comes from traditional lesson formats.
What does a typical session look like?▼
Sessions are 1-3 hours depending on the student's plan. Each session has a brief check-in, a project-based learning activity (building, coding, designing), and a reflection. The mentor tracks progress against the student's individual learning plan and EHCP outcomes where applicable. Session notes are shared with professionals and parents through our reporting system.
Post-16 Pathway
For students aged 16 and over, we offer accredited qualifications through NOCN.
Our Post-16 programme offers NOCN accredited qualifications in game development and digital skills. Students who have been with us through AP can progress into formal qualifications when they're ready — no sudden transitions, no new environment.
Post-16 students need a minimum of 6 hours per week to work towards their qualifications.
Education That Works for Them
Want to know more about how we deliver education? Get in touch and we'll walk you through our approach.
Email alternativeprovision@player-ready.co.uk or call 0117 463 3150