• Specialism:
  Physical Disabilities, Sensory Impairments, Language and Communication Difficulties
• Residential/Day:
  Day and Monday to Friday residential places
• Course Start Dates:
  Courses start September
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  38 weeks per year
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  60
• Age Range:
  18 - 25

General Description of College:
The College is close to Newcastle city centre and is ideally placed to enable learners to develop independent living skills. The College offers a range of work skills pathways in realistic working environments. Learners are supported to develop effective communication skills.

The Curriculum:
The curriculum is based around the development of life and work skills to increase independence, planning for the future and extending the range of transition opportunities. Learners develop a range of appropriate life skills including using public transport, managing money, accessing community based facilities and independent living skills such as preparing meals. Learners are able to develop work skills through a range of realistic work environments. These include a business admin and conference facility, a catering kitchen involving working in the “café @ the college”, arts and media and horticultural centres. All learners have the opportunity to develop and embed their skills through an extensive work experience programme. All learners achieve Foundation Learning qualifications.

Specialist Facilities:
The College Therapy Team is committed to an integrated approach and comprises speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. The College has a small fully accessible residence and a house in the community for learners who require a residential placement.

Statements:

1. expertise in supporting learners with a wide range of physical disabilities
2. expertise in meeting the needs of students with severe learning difficulties
3. expertise in working with learners with autism spectrum disorder
4. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
5. expertise in working with d/Deaf learners
6. expertise in working with learners who are blind or visually impaired
7. expertise in working with students who have specific learning difficulties
8. in-house physiotherapy
9. in-house speech and language therapy
10. Monday to Friday residential provision only
11. opportunities to work towards qualifications within Foundation Learning
12. a work placement scheme with local employers
13. opportunities to improve literacy, numeracy and/or communication skills
14. specialist staff to meet personal care requirements
15. opportunities to improve and develop communication skills through the use of Alternative and Augmentative Communication aids
16. opportunities to take part in a wide range of social, leisure and sporting activities
17. opportunities to experience real work situations
18. opportunities to attend local mainstream colleges with support
19. a programme to enable students to learn more about themselves and how to form relationships
20. a programme to help learners to look after themselves more independently