Foundation Courses

Link/Vocational Access

To provide a high quality learning environment, where young people are empowered to achieve maximum personal independence, enabling them to acquire the independent living, social, personal, communication and vocational skills which match their individual needs, expectations and potential.

The unit consists of two areas for learners who have additional needs in addition to their deafness. The Link area offers sessions on Life Skills and Independent Living, and the Vocational Access area offers access to vocational areas around College; both include personal and social development and individual learning. After a comprehensive initial and six week baseline assessment individual timetables are devised which allow learners to access appropriate parts of each curriculum. The unit is proud of its person-centred approach to learning, with timetables linked to learners' aspirations as well as their needs, as identified in the baseline assessment.

The Life Skills Curriculum

The Life Skills Curriculum encompasses the extended college day with work taking place during the evening and weekends.

This curriculum comprises of five curriculum strands, these strands encompass all the essential skills learners need. They have been chosen because they reflect the reality of learners' lives and enable them to develop essential skills within the context in which they will be learning and living during their adult lives. The five strands are:

Daily living skills
Personal care and presentation
Community and leisure
Practical skills
Personal and social skills

Aims

To promote independent living skills and confidence in learners
To reward the achievement of learners for the skills they have developed
To add value to quality of life experience of a group of learners who will always have limited access to progression routes
To develop a range of skills to enhance their social abilities
To develop their skills in expressing their views and opinions when given informed choices

Vocational Access Curriculum

Learners follow individualised timetables to meet their needs, wants and aspirations. Learners access the many vocational areas in College. The Vocational Access staff team provide additional specialist support to those learners who would otherwise find these courses inaccessible. Those on Vocational Access courses are given the opportunity to join parts of the Life Skills course, as well as sessions to improve their confidence and personal safety, in an inclusive environment. The learners access vocational areas and life skills in varying proportions suited to their needs. All have the opportunity to access further learning in an extended curriculum which covers both independent living and social skills.

Not all learning follows accreditation. However, where appropriate all learners have access to the following accredited courses:

Essential Skills Award
Edexcel Adult Literacy
Edexcel Adult Numeracy
Edexcel Life Skills
Edexcel Skills for Working Life
OCNW Life Skills