• Specialism:
  Supporting people with disabilities to access education, work and housing
• Residential/Day:
  Residential and day places available
• Course Start Dates:
  Courses start in September
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  Courses are 38 weeks per year
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  Maximum number of students = 70
• Age Range:
  Age range 16-25

General Description of College:
RNIB College Loughborough supports people with sight loss and/or other disabilities in learning to access education, work and housing, to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and positive relationships. It provides expert staff, modern facilities and a wide range of opportunities for involvement in work and the community. With the College located just a 10 minute walk from the town. RNIB College is highly regarded and offers a calm, structured and friendly environment where people can build their confidence. Learners can have supported access to any course at the mainstream further education college on the same campus.

The Curriculum:
The aim is to enable learners to lead fulfilling adult lives as independently as possible. Learners develop their skills within the College’s three learner-led enterprises, including the College cafeteria, College Office and College Shop. There are also opportunities to develop gardening, craft, IT, literacy, numeracy and communication skills. RNIB College offers a full and popular programme of evening and weekend activities for residential learners and day learners.

Specialist Facilities:
The College has a specialism in supporting people with sight loss, including a wide range of access technology. It has its own speech and language therapist and physiotherapist.

Statements:

1. expertise in working with learners who are blind or visually impaired
2. expertise in meeting the needs of students with moderate learning difficulties
3. expertise in meeting the needs of students with severe learning difficulties
4. expertise in working with learners with severe autism spectrum disorder
5. expertise in working with learners with Asperger syndrome
6. expertise in working with students who have specific learning difficulties
7. expertise in supporting learners with a wide range of physical disabilities
8. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
9. opportunities to work towards qualifications within Foundation Learning
10. a social skills programme
11. opportunities for learners to participate in community activities and to learn about citizenship
12. a programme to help learners to look after themselves more independently
13. opportunities to attend local mainstream colleges with support
14. opportunities to prepare for work after college
15. a work placement scheme with local employers
16. opportunities to improve literacy, numeracy and/or communication skills
17. comprehensive support in the learning and use of Braille and/or Moon
18. a transition programme into independent living
19. opportunities to take part in a wide range of social, leisure and sporting activities
20. residential provision extending beyond the academic year