• Specialism:
  Promoting independence/communication through tailored curriculum supported by multidisciplinary professionals
• Residential/Day:
  Residential, day, weekly boarder, student holiday respite care available
• Course Start Dates:
  Mainly September, but throughout the academic year
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  38
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  90
• Age Range:
  16-25

General Description of College:
We provide education and support for young people with mild to severe learning difficulties at our spacious 40 acre campus in rural Cheshire. With considerable expertise in working with young people with autism, epilepsy and other neurological conditions, we offer a holistic learning environment. Placements are available on a daily, residential or weekly boarder basis. A holiday respite service is available from one night to a full 52 week placement.

The Curriculum:
We offer four flexible tailored courses. Sensory learners develop effective total communication and functional independence skills through sensory/ practical experiences, whilst vocational/curriculum focused education increases independence and provides learners with the foundation for work. Where possible, courses offer qualifications and accreditations from leading exam boards and learners undertake progressive on-site and external work experience and placements.

Specialist Facilities:
Specialist support includes speech and language, physio, hydro and occupational therapies psychology and behaviour support and medical and clinical specialists. Every residential unit has waking night staff and nursing services are available 24 hours a day. The media centre offers a radio station, Karten Centre and Eduprint, a professional print service. Other facilities include “Juice”, our student run café bar, gym, swimming pool, sensory rooms, a small animal farm and pets grooming parlour.

Statements:

1. expertise in meeting the needs of students with severe learning difficulties
2. expertise in meeting the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties
3. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
4. expertise in working with learners with epilepsy and/or associated neurological conditions
5. expertise in working with learners with autism spectrum disorder
6. opportunities to work towards qualifications within Foundation Learning
7. a transition programme into independent living
8. a programme to help learners to look after themselves more independently
9. opportunities to experience real work situations
10. opportunities to improve communication skills such as the use of Makaton, Bliss, symbols or objects of reference
11. opportunities to develop strategies to promote appropriate behaviour
12. in-house speech and language therapy
13. in-house psychology services
14. in-house physiotherapy
15. residential provision extending beyond the academic year
16. day provision
17. on site medical provision
18. waking night residential staff
19. registered with the Care Quality Commission
20. nursing services available 24 hours a day