College Prospectus Raising Aspirations and Improving Lives
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college prospectus raising aspirations and improving lives www.espa.org.uk Our approach As we support learners across the autism Our College teams are supported by a highly spectrum, each College site has tailored its skilled and experienced Multi-Disciplinary approach to meet the needs of learners with Team whose input significantly improves similar abilities and need. learner outcomes. Learners also have access to our Counselling Service, providing College learners are supported to achieve individualised support and guidance that can academic and vocational qualifications enable individuals to overcome some of their ranging from Entry Level to ‘A’ Level. personal challenges. Our residential sites provide a youthful, The learners’ time at ESPA College ends homely environment that ensures learners with a magnificent celebration at their gain more independent living skills and enjoy graduation ceremony. This annual end of Welcome from an extended curriculum with the support year, high profile event showcases the skills of experienced and qualified Residential and confidence gained by learners and allows Learning Support Workers. our Principal family and friends to celebrate together. We can offer a range of residential accommodation to meet the varied needs and requirements of the learners, including a CQC-registered Halls of Residence in Newcastle. Some learners, who require very specific and specialised living accommodation can be offered placements within our transition house or other CQC- registered provision. The College offers each learner a bespoke, innovative and creative curriculum. All of our planned activities and learning sessions are designed to be engaging, enjoyable, individualised and challenging. We aim to develop the whole person and blend our autism specific core curriculum with a broad range of academic subjects. Teaching and learning occurs in a variety of settings, Thank you for your interest in ESPA College. many of which are community-based. Work As a leading specialist college for young adults with autism, we offer experience, employability skills, enterprise the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills so that you leave and independence feature highly within our us equipped to thrive in the workplace, continue your studies, make study programmes. better choices or simply live a more independent life. Our College is lively, diverse and vibrant and meets the needs of a wide range of learners across the autism spectrum. We look forward to ‘Good teaching, learning and assessment working with you and your families and promise we will work tirelessly to nurture, challenge and inspire you. develop learners’ skills very well’ OFSTED 2016 4 3 Behaviour Self-Management We promote the development of behaviour self-management as an essential component of each learner’s programme. Learners work with staff to formulate their own behaviour support plans, enabling them to become more independent and confident. Interventions are always positive, sensitive and individualised. There is clear evidence of exceptional learner achievement in this area. All staff are trained in non-aversive approaches to working with learners with challenging behaviour. Social Communication The College teaches social communication skills within discrete classroom-based sessions and includes speaking and listening themes such as, ‘conversational skills’, ‘social rules’ and ‘relationships’. These skills can be further extended and developed in a range of more informal settings such as social, leisure and community environments. We encourage the use of mobile technology Our Specialist as a communication aid and learning tool, recognising the importance of functional Autism Curriculum communication to help learners self- manage their lives and/or behaviour. Emotional Literacy The Emotional Literacy This programme supports learners’ curriculum explores and includes: development and understanding of their 'Learners on the emotional literacy programme develop • Awareness of self and impact on others autism. It explores their emotions and the • Positive thinking and increasing very good levels of personal and social skills which help to impact this can have on themselves and motivation prepare them for life and work. Learners demonstrate others. This can help learners to live a • Self-esteem more fulfilling, rewarding and independent a better understanding of their emotions and • Decision-making life. The specialist programme can include behaviours and the impact these have on themselves and • Goal-setting and planning for the future peer support, social skills groups and • Building and maintaining relationships on others.’ individual counselling. • Taking personal responsibility OFSTED 2016 • Team building and supporting others Recognising that many learners have had • Men’s/women’s issues difficult or negative experiences in the • Empathy course of their education and life; we place • Exploring aspects of sexuality a strong focus on developing self-esteem, and relationships confidence and self-belief. • Self-presentation 4 5 ‘T he college offers a broad and varied curriculum which The Broader is tailored to fit Curriculum learners’ individual needs and interest s and motivates them to learn.’ OFSTED 2016 Duke of Edinburgh The College offers its learners the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Functional Skills Edinburgh Award at 3 levels, Bronze, Silver Employability Skills and Gold. The Award allows learners to Literacy and numeracy courses are tailored gain valuable experience and develop many to the individual learner’s needs following All learners have the opportunity to develop essential life skills through participation in diagnostic assessment. Learners are able a range of real life skills where they can be a wide range of practical, physical and work- to develop their skills in reading, writing taught about interview techniques, personal based activities. The 4 main components of and speaking and listening in everyday presentation or completing job applications. each Award require learners to: life. Formal qualifications in functional Performing Arts Learners can put these skills into practice • Develop a new SKILL (i.e. photography, art, Maths, English and ICT are offered. They during their work experiences. Current Is for learners of all abilities who have an interest independence) can be taught in College and in the wider in the world of performance. The projects focus placements include conservation work, retail, community, often embedded throughout the on enhancing self-esteem, confidence, creative stage hand, hospital laboratories and radio • Improve PHYSICAL health and fitness curriculum. thinking and communication through the medium stations, alongside local restaurants and cafés. through involvement in sport and exercise of drama, theatre and performance. Enrichment, Leisure • Develop work based skills and Creative Arts & Multimedia make a personal contribution to the In this area, all learners are encouraged to Independence & Social Skills local community through a range of develop and fine tune skills across a range We focus on developing realistic and important All of our learners are encouraged to take part VOLUNTEERING opportunities and of creative genres, including: painting, daily living skills. This includes cooking, in different sport, leisure and fitness activities. • Gain a wide range of social and personal drawing, 3D art and sculpture, jewellery shopping, budgeting, social skills and Most Friday afternoons can be spent developing skills through the planning and making, filming and editing, photography and community awareness, alongside independent core skills with group enrichment activities, participation in an EXPEDITION. music technology. Learners build confidence travel skills for journeys relevant to the learner often chosen and organised by learners. and self-belief through participation, such as travelling from home to college or a performance, exhibiting and co-ordinating a work placement. wide range of creative projects. 6 7 Work based learning Vocational Enterprise and Supported Internships Developing skills for work and a more independent life ‘Learners are well ESPA College is recruiting learners work related training may take the form of prepared to join one of its three Vocational short courses or stand-alone NOCN Units Enterprise programmes. relevant to the chosen job role. for work The scheme, for young adults aged 16- The programme aims to maintain functional 24 with autism, combines practical work skills by embedding literacy, numeracy placement s.’ experience and essential employability skills and ICT into all aspects of learning where in a non-academic vocational programme appropriate. This will be done in a practical OFSTED 2016 delivered by autism specialists and based on fashion to reflect the wider aims of the the Social Enterprise model. scheme. The examples of enterprises are: Vocational enterprises are run across all ESPA Colleges and are accredited by • Bicycle repair and maintenance ONE Awards. • Clothes making and repairs • Garden furniture making, horticulture and joinery They are all offered on a full and part-time basis and usually last two years. Equipping learners with a set of skills to promote greater work-based independence is at the heart of the scheme and will be encouraged and nurtured throughout the programme. Learners will develop work skills to prepare them for employment, including apprenticeships. Supported internships – What are they? All learners must