• Specialism:
  People with a range of disabilities and associated learning difficulties
• Residential/Day:
  Residential and day places
• Course Start Dates:
  Courses start date flexible to suit placement
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  38 weeks per year
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  Maximum 130 residential learners; plus day learners
• Age Range:
  Age 16+

General Description of College:
Portland College is an Independent Specialist College, providing residential education and training for students aged 16 and over with disabilities and/or learning difficulties. The College is based in the beautiful woodland surroundings of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire.

The Curriculum:
Our curriculum is entirely geared around the individual and timetables are created to address current and emerging learning priorities. Foundation Learning programmes enable Portland College to recognise every individual achievement through nationally recognised qualifications, resulting in our learners not only developing numerous life skills, but also having these achievements recognised by external awards. We specialise in functional skills and preparing learners for independent living to help them to make informed future choices around where they want to live and what they want to do when they finish their programme.

Specialist Facilities:
Our independence curriculum is bolstered by excellent independence training facilities; specially adapted kitchens, links with local public transport companies, five independence training apartments; experienced tutors, excellent teaching facilities campus-wide, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists all who work closely with individual learners and support training and development. There is also dedicated specialist autism provision with a safe, low-stimulus environment.

Statements:

1. opportunities to work towards qualifications within Foundation Learning
2. a personal development programme
3. a programme to help learners to look after themselves more independently
4. opportunities to explore a range of living options after college
5. a transition programme into supported or open employment
6. opportunities to attend local mainstream colleges with support
7. opportunities to improve literacy, numeracy and/or communication skills
8. opportunities to improve Information and learning technology skills
9. opportunities to improve and develop communication skills through the use of Alternative and Augmentative Communication aids
10. opportunities to take part in a wide range of social, leisure and sporting activities
11. expertise in supporting learners with a wide range of physical disabilities
12. expertise in working with learners with acquired brain injury
13. expertise in working with learners with autism spectrum disorder with associated challenging behaviour
14. expertise in meeting the needs of students with profound and multiple learning difficulties
15. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
16. extensive use of assistive and adaptive technologies
17. in-house physiotherapy
18. an occupational therapy programme
19. registered with the Care Quality Commission
20. day provision