learner support

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Supporting Independent Living

Weston College has a number of successful courses to help our students transition into independent living, Higher Education and employment.

Our programmes focus on:

  • A range of vocational options
  • Personal and social development
  • Employability skills
  • Work experience
  • Independent living.

What makes our provision unique?

Specialist facilities

Our students have access to a wide range of excellent, high-quality vocational experiences, specialist resources and accommodation across all Weston College campuses. This provides them with the opportunity to learn in appropriate contexts. This includes our hairdressing and beauty salons, the Grove Training Kitchen and Restaurant, Badgworth Equestrian Arena, our sports facilities, and our construction and building services department.

Students on the autism spectrum have access to the activities at Horizon, our specialist residential centre for students on the autism spectrum.

Activities

Courses are further enhanced throughout the year with opportunities for students to participate in additional sporting events, overnight and week-long residential stays, educational visits, lunch-time activities and the end of-year celebration events.

Enterprise and employability

Getting involved in enterprise and community projects is a key element of any programme for our students with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). This helps students to develop their team building, leadership and other social skills to prepare them for future employment.

Supported internships

These provide structured programme for 16 to 24 year olds with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) or an Education Health and Care Plan (EH&CP), who want to progress into employment and need extra support to do so. The key aim is to, wherever possible, support young people to move into paid employment. In addition to this, the programme aims to equip interns with the skills they need for work through learning in the workplace. Where interns do not transition into paid work, staff ensure relevant agencies are able to continue helping them with job searching and employment support. The programme will usually run for one year, however this is flexible depending on the intern’s individual needs. 

Aspirations

Aspirations is a course specifically developed for students aged 19-24 years old on the Autism Spectrum.

Students on our Aspirations course attend sessions at Horizon, our specialist residential training centre. Many of the students on the course already have excellent academic or vocational qualifications but have found accessing employment or independent living very difficult.

Students often need extra support to help them further develop their social skills, confidence and decision making skills.

In addition, this support helps students determine their career/further education path.

Horizon

Find out more about our specialist seafront residential facility which supports students who are on the autism spectrum.

Find out more

Feedback

Comments from a learner:

"Going to Horizon has helped me to understand the challenges of independent living and how to overcome them, whilst also showing me how to access the community..."

Apply or find out more

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Take a look at this powerful film made by the staff of Weston College to show how important it is for everyone from different backgrounds to be included. The film shares heartfelt stories and interviews with a diverse group of staff, showing how accepting different identities and backgrounds can make a big difference. Its purpose is to encourage viewers to think about their own biases and work towards making our community more welcoming to all. We invite everyone, regardless of their background, to join us and be a part of our journey toward a more inclusive future.

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