Supported Learning

College Pathways

COLLEGE PATHWAYS

Contents

Welcome

Brooklands College

What Is The Course About?

Course Content

Work Placements or Alternatives to Work Days

College Personal Social Development Programmes

What They Say About Supported Learning

Progression Routes

Achievements within Supported Learning

Contact Details

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30/09/09 2400ci(j)

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Welcome to Brooklands College If you have a learning difficulty and/or disability, there are a range of challenging educational programmes and opportunities available through the Supported Learning team at Brooklands College. The courses are flexible, and can be attended on both a fulltime and part-time basis. They have been designed to meet the needs and abilities of the learner and carry a range of external accredited status, offering the possibility of pathways to other courses, employment or sheltered independent schemes.

All students on Supported Learning courses also have the opportunity to take advantage of the varied enrichment activities programme available both within the section and throughout the college. As an established provider of good quality college and school courses for young people from 14 - 19 years, and having the benefit of new specialist teaching facilities within a secure and supportive teaching environment, all learners will find it an ideal setting to further their education and develop greater independence. We look forward to the opportunity of meeting with you in the future to discuss the excellent opportunities within Supported Learning.

Ashley Jordan-DiaperManager of Supported Learning

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Brooklands CollegeSupported learning programmes (SLP) at Brooklands allow learners to access modern, safe, friendly, and secure learning environment specially adapted for the needs of students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. SLP 14 -19 programme is managed from the Berkeley building.

We also have a number of off site partnership facilities used by students including Spelthorne Farm (Heathrow) Hillside Catering project (Camberley) and the Xcel Sport and Leisure Centre in Walton.

The Supported Learning Department also has its own minibus allowing wheelchair access, so that students can go off-site for educational visits or activities.

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What Is The Course About?The pathway course is a modular personalised programme for 16+ year old students who want to build on their life, employability, vocational and basic and communication skills. All qualifications being studied are part of the new national foundation learning credit tier framework being introduced into colleges for 2010 and have been specifically designed to provide individual progression routes from school into wider foundation study within the college, employment or independent living schemes. The college pathway programme can be studied up to 3 years, ensuring students are adequately prepared for the transition into work, supported living or specific adult (part time) study required to move on into the wider community. A map below gives an example of a number of pathway routes available to SLP learners within Supported Learning.

Pre -EntrySchool Link PathwayAlternative Pathway Curriculum

Year 1College Vocational pathways

Year 2College Employment and Independent Pathways

Year 3 Moving on Pathways Moving On Options From CollegeEmployabilitySupported LivingSpecialist Adult SLP leading to Employment, Supported Living and Housing(part time programme)

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Course ContentSupported Learning aims to provide each learner with individualised pathway programmes designed to develop student’s skills, knowledge and independence in the following areas:

Student Tutorial Support Programme • (including access to specialist sensory, hearing or speech and language support to those with an acknowledged need in this area)

Numeracy and Literacy skills for home, work and •community

Developing ICT skills at home, work and community•

Developing Vocational and Work Related skills in the •following areas:

Basic Office and Administration »Introduction to Catering »Painting, Decorating and wider construction skills »Hairdressing »Horticulture »Motor Vehicle Studies »Retail »Working in Care »Working in Sport and Leisure »Creative Foundation Pathways (Art, Media and »Performing Arts)Service Industry Foundation pathways (Catering, »Public services and Travel)Working in Temporary and Casual Employment »Practical Life Skills »

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Work Placement or Alternatives to Work DaysStudents are given the opportunity of practicing the skills they are learning outside SLP for a minimum of one day a week. This takes place every Thursday or Friday starting from the October half term following an initial employability course and suitable work placement assessments. All learners receive support from Surrey EmployAbilty ( specialist disability advisory service), termly visits and a record of achievement detailing individual work related skills at the end of each year.

Where work experience is not suitable, students are involved in alternative options exploring routes into:

Adult Community Education Programmes (every Thursday)•Surrey Sheltered Employability Schemes•Sheltered Housing Schemes for Adults•Social Services Day Service Provision for Adults•

We work in partnership with Surrey EmployAbility, Surrey Learning Disability Partnership Board to provide these placements

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College Personal Social Development ProgrammesThe college pathway programme also ensures all learners have the opportunity to further develop their creative and sporting skills, as well as widening their opportunities for greater integration and inclusion within the college. A full list of enrichment options being offered to SLP students from September 2009 can be found below:

Drama•Art•Outdoor Pursuits•Managing and taking part in Leisure within the community•Martial Arts•Specialist sport and recreation programme•Music & Dance•Gardening•Survival cooking•Language club•Learning to Travel Independently with the Surrey Transport •Travel ProgrammeDeveloping DIY skills•Introduction to driving •Brooklands Radio •Chelsea FC Community Soccer Scheme for Adults with •Learning Difficulties

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What They Say About Supported LearningHere are some examples of the feedback we have received from students, parents, schools and college inspectors about the quality of our provision:

Students:“I love it here, it is much better than school”

Parents:“We’re absolutely delighted with the course our son is on and with the progress he is making.”

Schools:“The students always enjoy their mornings at college ... and come back with new skills and a sense of purpose”Philip Southcote School

Inspectors and Awarding Body Findings:Ofsted visited us in January 2006 and stated that ourLDD curriculum is well planned, and the achievement of learners is well above the national average.

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Progression Routes

School Pathway

College Pathway

Year 1Vocational Pathway

Year 2Pathway to

Employment

Year 3Pathway to Moving On

AdultPathway

Employment

IndependentLiving

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Achievements Within Supported LearningAll 150 link students successfully completed a range of accredited qualifications.

All link students have progressed onto college courses or employment in the last 3 years.

In partnership with Surrey Employability we have placed….98% students attending full-time courses achieved Qualifications in Literacy, Numeracy, ICT, Life Skills and Vocational programmes.

We have worked with 2 students from Special Schools to improve their attendance in education and offer them vocational programmes. All successfully completed their placements with us.

In Supported Learning Drama was praised for its inclusivity and county arts by the Mayor of Elmbridge.

Brooklands was awarded Elmbridge Sports Scheme of the Year in 2008 for it work with young adults with disabilities.

In 20089 Supported learning worked in partnership with Elmbridge Borough council and MENCAP ensuring all young people within the department took part in a county Healthy living week.

Brooklands runs one of the largest disability sports programmes in the country linking in with London Disability Sports Forum and Chelsea Football in the Community Scheme.

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Contact Details

For further information please contactDeborah Proudfoot

dproudfoot@brooklands.ac.uk01932 797 673

www.brooklands.ac.uk