• Specialism:
  Severe or complex communication difficulties or Asperger Syndrome.
• Residential/Day:
  Students take up the provision on either a day or weekly residential basis.
• Course Start Dates:
  Mainly at the beginning of the school/college academic year
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  38 weeks
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  40
• Age Range:
  FE department – 16-19 years

General Description of College:
Dawn House School is located in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire.

The Curriculum:
Core Curriculum All students access the core curriculum in the study centre, collaboratively planned and delivered by the specialist staff of the school. The core curriculum includes social communication, adult literacy, adult numeracy, lifeskills work and PSHCE. Work in these areas is accredited through relevant qualifications. Academic/ Vocational Course In addition to the core curriculum, students follow one of three pathways. Transfer from one pathway to another is appropriate and easy to facilitate. Pathway 1: Students take up an academic or vocational course of their choice in a mainstream college, supported by the staff team. Pathway 2: Students access a vocational qualification through an extended work placement, supported by the specialist staff. Pathway 3: Students may access an academic or vocational course to support transition to pathway 1 or 2 or to other specialist colleges.

Specialist Facilities:
Students are supported in their offsite learning by a range of professional staff which includes teachers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapist, learning mentor and specialist learning support assistants.

Statements:

1. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
2. expertise in working with learners with Asperger syndrome
3. expertise in meeting the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties
4. expertise in meeting the needs of students with severe learning difficulties
5. opportunities to improve literacy, numeracy and/or communication skills
6. in-house speech and language therapy
7. an occupational therapy programme
8. opportunities to develop strategies to promote appropriate behaviour
9. a programme to enable students to learn more about themselves and how to form relationships
10. opportunities for learners to participate in community activities and to learn about citizenship
11. opportunities to attend local mainstream colleges with support
12. a range of vocational courses with opportunities for accreditation.
13. opportunities to improve and develop communication skills through the use of Alternative and Augmentative Communication aids
14. residential provision linked to the academic year
15. Monday to Friday residential provision only
16. day provision
17. a programme to help learners to look after themselves more independently
18. a work placement scheme with local employers
19. opportunities to take part in a wide range of social, leisure and sporting activities
20. opportunities to take part in a range of business activities