How Ohana Works
A different model of online school.
Ohana is not traditional school moved onto a screen. It is designed from the ground up around belonging, motivation, emotional safety, safeguarding, academic progress and strong human relationships.
At Ohana, every child is seen as an individual. We begin by understanding how each learner thinks, communicates, engages and responds to challenge, then place them on the pathway that best fits them.
Ohana combines structured curriculum pathways, live teaching, independent and project-based learning, recognised qualifications and ongoing feedback with flexible ways to participate. Relationships remain at the centre, with teachers and trusted adults providing consistent guidance and support.
The Ohana Journey
From first welcome to a personalised pathway, here is how a child’s journey through Ohana works.
Getting to know the learner
Every child begins with a gentle, personalised introduction designed to build trust and understanding. We take time to understand how they learn, communicate, participate and respond to challenge, creating the foundation for an experience built around the individual child.
A gentle welcome through the Hearth
The Hearth is the welcoming entrance to Ohana’s digital learning environment. Here, each child meets OMI, their regulation and learning companion, explores the Ohana Realm, chooses their sensory preferences and begins school at a pace that feels safe.
Discovering how they learn through Quest of Minds
Quest of Minds is a story-led adventure that helps Ohana understand each learner’s strengths, needs, confidence, motivation and preferred ways of participating. There are no scores or labels, only meaningful insight into how they think, communicate, focus and respond to new experiences.
Building their Personal Pathway Plan
This early understanding shapes the child’s First Lesson Access Card and Personal Pathway Plan. It gives teachers clear insight into what supports the learner, what to avoid and how they can enter learning successfully.
The learner is then placed on a curriculum pathway suited to their starting point, readiness, strengths and goals.
Beginning learning in flexible ways
Children can participate in several valid ways. They may join live lessons, use recordings, contribute through chat or voice, work independently, participate with their camera off, submit creative evidence or return to learning through smaller supported steps.
Flexibility does not mean lowering expectations. It improves access so every child has a genuine route into learning.
Assessment, progress and reporting
Assessment at Ohana is purposeful, supportive and focused on development. Through Quest of Minds, teacher observation, feedback, projects, portfolios and appropriate checks or qualifications, we build a clear picture of each learner’s strengths, needs and progress.
Families receive meaningful reports covering progress, areas for development, support strategies and next steps.
Recognition Without Comparison
Ohana does not use gamification to rank children publicly. Learners are recognised for the things that genuinely build success.
Readiness
Using strategies and rebuilding access to learning
Courage
Trying something difficult or asking for help
Persistence
Staying with challenge or returning after difficulty
Kindness
Contributing to the group
Insight
Reflecting and making connections
Why we have chosen online learning
A calmer, more connected and flexible way to learn.
Ohana’s online model removes many of the pressures associated with crowded corridors, noisy classrooms and social overwhelm. This can make it easier for children to engage, communicate and form meaningful connections.
Flexible participation
Learners can join live lessons, use recordings, contribute through chat or voice, work independently, keep their camera off and return through smaller supported steps. Flexibility improves access without lowering expectations.
Relationships by design
Every learner is known by teachers and trusted adults who understand their story and strengths, recognise when they are struggling and provide consistent guidance. When learners feel safe and understood, participation and confidence can grow.
Learning through community
Online learning does not mean learning alone. Gatherings, mentoring, clubs, community events and collaborative quests give learners regular opportunities to connect with peers, trusted adults and the wider Ohana community.
Recognition Without Comparison
Ohana does not use gamification to rank children publicly. Learners are recognised for the things that genuinely build success.
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There are no public leaderboards.
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No shame charts.
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No “top of the class” status race.
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No rewards for masking distress.
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No punishment for absence, wobble or needing support.
Curriculum and Pathways
An academically serious, flexible curriculum shaped around each learner.
Ohana offers an online curriculum for modern learners that is emotionally accessible and designed to make learning feel possible.
It is British-rooted, internationally informed and shaped around each learner’s starting point, strengths, readiness and goals. If a child needs to rebuild confidence, the curriculum makes space for that. If they are ready for greater challenge, it provides it. Different routes and levels of support are available without lowering ambition.
The Ohana Curriculum Blend
Ohana’s curriculum brings together three educational traditions, providing a learning experience that is structured and flexible, ambitious and supportive.
British National Curriculum Spine
Provides the structure for core knowledge and progression across English, mathematics, science, humanities, computing, creative subjects, PSHE and physical wellbeing.
Inquiry-led and Global Learning
Learners explore important questions, real-world themes and values such as integrity, creativity and contribution, developing curiosity, reflection, communication and independence.
Cambridge-style International Progression
Brings clear stage-based progression, subject depth, academic rigour and preparation for recognised qualifications, including routes suitable for UK-based and internationally mobile learners.
Curriculum Phases
Follow each learner’s journey from their initial introduction through to qualifications and future destinations.
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Entry and Baseline
Understanding the learner’s starting point, communication, participation and support needs.
Foundation and Reconnection
Rebuilding confidence, learning routines and essential academic foundations.
Lower Secondary Discovery
Exploring a broad curriculum while developing independence and subject confidence.
Middle Secondary Pathways
Identifying strengths, qualification readiness and the most suitable KS4 route.
KS4 Qualification Pathways
Working towards recognised academic, functional, applied or creative outcomes.
Bridge / Level 2 Plus
Consolidating learning and preparing for further study, training or employment.
Post-16 Destination Pathways
Building independence and progressing towards higher study, college, apprenticeships, work or supported adulthood.
Our Pathways
Personalised learning without losing direction.
Ohana keeps ambition high while giving learners more ways to participate, demonstrate understanding, recover after difficulty and move forward with confidence. Each learner follows a pathway shaped around their starting point, strengths, readiness and future goals.
Core Academic
For learners ready for a broad academic pathway leading towards GCSE, IGCSE and A Level-style progression.
Supported Academic
For learners who can access formal academic qualifications but need a reduced load, additional scaffolding, more tutorials, a longer timeline or carefully planned exam entry.
Applied Skills
For learners whose pathway is best supported through Functional Skills, employability, digital skills, practical learning, vocational preparation and real-world application.
Creative Portfolio
For learners with creative, technical, media, design, performance or project-based strengths. This pathway may include portfolio evidence, creative qualifications, project work and selected formal subjects.
Reconnection
For learners who need to rebuild confidence, routines, trust, attendance-to-learning and engagement before moving into a more formal academic route.
International
For learners needing portable or globally recognised pathways, including International GCSE, Cambridge-style progression and internationally transferable records.
Destination Ready
For learners preparing for post-16 progression, college, apprenticeships, work, enterprise, supported transition or adulthood.
Find the right pathway forward
Every learner begins from a different place. Speak with our admissions team about their needs, goals and how an Ohana pathway could support them.