• Specialism:
  Students are deaf/hearing impaired with additional learning/communication needs
• Residential/Day:
  Residential and Day places
• Course Start Dates:
  
• Course Length per Year in weeks:
  39 weeks per year 52 week placement available
• Maximum Student Numbers:
  80
• Age Range:
  16-22

General Description of College:
Westgate College is an independent Specialist College with educational and residential provision. All our learners are Deaf or have an associated communication difficulty and many have additional educational, emotional/behavioural or medical problems. The College is situated in Margate on the north Kent coast. Margate has good road and rail links to London

The Curriculum:
All our groups are small with appropriate levels of support from qualified Teachers of the Deaf, Tutor and LSA’s. We provide time tables which are tailored to meet the needs of learners. The curriculum is differentiated to enable learners to build on developing skills and knowledge. Our programmes include a broad range of accreditation from entry level to NVQs. We offer vocational programmes throughout own real working environments, local mainstream college and employers. Our 14-19 curriculum offers learners the opportunity to gain qualifications in: Child Care Basic construction Woodwork Hair and Beauty Small animal care Horticulture

Specialist Facilities:
The College employs a team of qualified and experienced specialists who provide advice and support in the following areas: Hearing impairment Nursing and Medical matters Occupational Therapy Behaviour Speech and Language Therapy Signed Communication Visual impairment Physiotherapy Audiology In additional we have regular access to specialists in areas such as in Ophthalmology, Audiology, Psychiatry, General Practice and Dentistry

Statements:

1. expertise in working with d/Deaf learners
2. expertise in working with learners with communication difficulties
3. in-house speech and language therapy
4. in-house physiotherapy
5. an occupational therapy programme
6. an understanding of the importance to young people of deaf community and culture
7. waking night residential staff
8. registered with the Care Quality Commission
9. on site medical provision
10. residential provision extending beyond the academic year
11. Monday to Friday residential provision only
12. a range of vocational courses with opportunities for accreditation.
13. opportunities to work towards qualifications within Foundation Learning
14. a programme to help learners to look after themselves more independently
15. opportunities to attend local mainstream colleges with support
16. opportunities to prepare for work after college
17. opportunities to experience real work situations
18. opportunities to improve literacy, numeracy and/or communication skills
19. opportunities to improve and develop communication skills through the use of Alternative and Augmentative Communication aids
20. a transition programme into independent living