• Specialism:
  Adolescent to Adult Life Preparation Service (AALPS) for people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD).
• Residential/Day:
  Residential
• Course Start Dates:
  Admissions throughout the year
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  52 weeks per year
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  Maximum 40
• Age Range:
  16+

General Description of College:
AALPS North is a well-established, CQC-approved transitions service for young adults aged 16+, with placements available for up to 52 weeks per year. Person-centered development programmes enable the young people at AALPS North to successfully transition to supported or independent living within appropriate timeframes, either along the Options Group Pathway or externally.

The Curriculum:
There are a number of opportunities for ongoing learning at AALPS North. In addition to the development of important life skills, young people are supported to study for AQA Entry Level Certificates and will soon be able to study for nationally accredited courses such as NVQ and OCN. AALPS North also provides workshops on skills such as bike repair and soap and card making to support Young Enterprise Schemes.

Specialist Facilities:
AALPS North offers a wide range of facilities at the Roxby and Thorpe campuses providing young people with the opportunity to develop their interests and skills in different environments. These include extensive gardens, including a wooded area with challenge track and adventure playground, café with fully equipped catering kitchen, sports hall and gym, small animal farm and horticultural area, pottery and woodwork studios, multi-media room and recording studio and beauty therapy salon.  The young people at AALPS North also have access to a fully equipped IT suite, library, multi-sensory room and hydrotherapy facilities.

Statements:

1. expertise in working with learners with autism spectrum disorder
2. expertise in working with learners with Asperger syndrome
3. expertise in working with learners with autism spectrum disorder with associated challenging behaviour
4. expertise in supporting learners with behavioural difficulties
5. expertise in supporting learners with emotional difficulties
6. expertise in meeting the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties
7. expertise in meeting the needs of students with severe learning difficulties
8. expertise in working with students who have specific learning difficulties
9. expertise in meeting the needs of students with profound and multiple learning difficulties
10. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
11. a personal development programme
12. a social skills programme
13. opportunities to improve and develop communication skills through the use of Alternative and Augmentative Communication aids
14. a range of therapeutic services
15. specialist orientation and mobility training to enable independent travel
16. waking night residential staff
17. expertise in working with learners with multi-sensory impairment
18. a work placement scheme with local employers
19. opportunities to experience real work situations
20. opportunities to prepare for work after college