• Specialism:
  A wide range of Learning Difficulties and Disabilities.
• Residential/Day:
  Both Available
• Course Start Dates:
  September limited numbers in January and April.
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  38
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  208 Residential and 50 Day Learners
• Age Range:
  16 – 25

General Description of College:
Rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in 2008 Linkage College provides specialist Further Education for over 200 young adults with a wide range of learning disabilities / difficulties. Our aim is to help every student develop toward adulthood in achieving greater independence for his/her future life through individualised programmes of realistic vocational training, the development of independence skills and work experience placements. Comprising of two campuses, Weelsby Campus can be found in the town of Grimsby and Toynton Campus in the Lincolnshire market town, Spilsby. Accommodation, both on and off campus, is registered with CQC. Each house has the benefit of waking night staff.

The Curriculum:
Providing meaningful learning opportunities in line with Foundation learning Linkage College offers the following: Vocational – Horticulture, Business Administration, Catering, Car Valeting, Media, Child Care, Health and Social Care, Retail, Food Service, Hairdressing, Stable Management, Construction, Art, Sport and Dance and Drama. Skills for Life – Language, Literacy, Numeracy, ICT and Communication. Work Experience Placements Independence – Road Safety, Travel, Self Care, Personal Relationships, Shopping and Cooking.

Specialist Facilities:
Learners have access to specialist services to enhance their learning such as: Speech and Language Therapy Makaton and BSL trained staff Educational Psychologist Realistic Vocational Work Environments Consultant Psychiatrist Holistic Therapy Learner Services Team Qualified Counsellors Transition Team Physiotherapy

Statements:

1. expertise in meeting the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties
2. expertise in meeting the needs of students with severe learning difficulties
3. expertise in working with students who have specific learning difficulties
4. expertise in working with learners with Asperger syndrome
5. expertise in working with learners with autism spectrum disorder
6. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
7. a programme to help learners to look after themselves more independently
8. a range of vocational courses with opportunities for accreditation.
9. opportunities to experience real work situations
10. opportunities to improve Information and learning technology skills
11. opportunities to improve literacy, numeracy and/or communication skills
12. opportunities to take part in a wide range of social, leisure and sporting activities
13. specialist training to enable independent travel
14. in-house speech and language therapy
15. a range of therapeutic services
16. in-house psychology services
17. in-house psychiatric services
18. in-house physiotherapy
19. a transition programme into independent living
20. a transition programme into supported or open employment