MEET THE THURROCK POST-16 SEND PREPARING FOR ADULTHOOD TEAM

 

Thurrock Autistic Community Together (TACT)

Currently a two year pilot programme to support those with complex Autism or with challenging behaviours whom the only alternative would likely be a residential placement. This programme gives those participating greater independent skills both at home and in the community with a view to them eventually moving to supported living within their community. This programme uses learning tools based on Applied Behaviour Analysis to teach new skills, manage behaviours and improve quality of life.

http://www.choiceandcontrol.co.uk/products.php

Treetops Sixth Form

Located on the same site as the main school, transition to post-16 is carried out from January to July in Year 11 and is individualised based on the needs of the students. Applications are also welcomed from external candidate and induction days are offered throughout the year. The Sixth Form caters for students who are not yet ready to move on to Further Education at college or in the workplace.

The learning is based around preparation for adult life. These qualifications are followed at a level appropriate to the individual student as well as continued work on functional English and Maths skills. Students are able to access some or all of these course at pre-entry levels through to Entry Levels 1 – 3 and Level 1 and 2.

With ASDAN qualifications and short courses being used to form the basis of the curriculum, students complete qualifications in:
•Personal Progress
•Personal and Social Development
•Employability
•CoPE (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness)

Students also spend one day a week following a vocational course either at an external provider/college or on the school site. Vocational programs include Construction, Gardening, Hospitality & Catering, Hair & Beauty, Business Studies and Performing Arts on-site and a bespoke course run at Writtle College. The opportunity to take part in weekly work experience day is also offered to students in their final year of study.

https://treetopsschool.org/school-areas/sixth-form-aims/what-we-offer/

 

Beacon Hill Post 16 Unit

This is part of Beacon Hill Academy and caters for students with severe and profound and multiple learning difficulties from 16 – 19. We do not offer places to pupils with Autism. All students have an Education, Health and Care Plan. Admission is via the SEN team at the students Local Authority. Most of the students move into the Post 16 Unit having previously been based at our main site. Pupils begin to link to Post 16 when they are in year 10 and move there full time by the end of year 11.

The Post 16 Unit is located away from the main school site in Ockendon and is on the same site as Treetops School in Grays. On-site facilities include a wheelchair user friendly kitchen with height adjustable worktops and cupboards, a sensory room, ICT suite, fully adapted toilets and a ceiling track hoisting system throughout. Students are also able to access facilities at the main site, including a hydrotherapy pool. There are 2 wheelchair accessible minibuses at the Post 16 site.

The focus of learning changes significantly at Post 16 to look at preparation for adult life. We work extremely closely with partners, including Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions to provide a wide range of community links which link to opportunities beyond school.

All of the Post 16 and KS4 students spend one day a week linking into activities which are sustainable beyond school. They are encouraged to try a variety of different things and identify their preferences so that post school options can be designed to meet individual need.

Provision in Thurrock for young people aged 16 – 18 or up to 25 with an EHCP

Most of the learning on the Post 16 site takes place in much smaller groups or could be individual. It could be led by a teaching assistant, HLTA or teacher. Families are supported to prepare for adulthood, including understanding how services change and the implications of the mental capacity act.

The curriculum is divided into 4 areas:-
•Physical and Movement
•Relationships and the community
•Independence and transition
•Wellbeing and sensory

Communication underpins all areas

All students have individual learning adventures that build on their previous education and incorporate their personal lifestyle choices and these are accredited through the Asdan Personal Progress Qualification.

Contact Name: Laura Podstawka

Contact Position: Post 16 Team Leader

Telephone: 01375 898656

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.beaconhill.thurrock.sch.uk

 

SOUTH ESSEX COLLEGE

Take a look at our Promo video:

South Essex College (SEC) – Learner Pathways – Entry Level Certificate:

Available at Thurrock, Southend and Basildon Campus

A full-time course designed for those experiencing difficulties in engaging in school and require support in deciding next steps. This course will provide young people with the skills needed to take next steps into adulthood, including work/employability skills, building a CV, working with others (including outward bound sports), Maths and English in addition to work experience or voluntary placements.

Entry requirements – The young person must demonstrate the ability to work at E3 in an assessment and successful attendance at interview.

https://www.southessex.ac.uk/coursefinder?title_or_code=pathways

 

South Essex College (SEC) – Pathways to Independence - Entry Level to Level 1:

Due to delay in the opening of the new Basildon Campus, this will be temporarily be offered at the new Lucklyn Lane Campus

This is a full-time course designed to develop the skills required to gain employment. Employability qualifications provide a framework for developing and recognising general employability skills and participants will improve the strengths and qualities required for the workplace, prepare for work-enterprise, exploring job opportunities, maintaining standards. Improving English and Maths, attending employment-related workshops, take part in employer-related community projects as well as complete work experience or a voluntary placement.

Provision in Thurrock for young people aged 16 – 18 or up to 25 with an EHCP

Work is assessed through portfolio and progression upon completion could be employment or supported employment.

https://www.southessex.ac.uk/course/pathways-to-independence-entry-level-to-level-1

South Essex College (SEC) – Vocational Pathway Courses at Entry Level 3:

Art and Design, Business, Construction, Media and IT, Care Occupations, Service Industries and Motor Vehicle

https://www.southessex.ac.uk/search

 

South Essex College (SEC) – Active Futures Programme – Level 1:

Available at Thurrock Campus

This programme will work on developing the skills needed for young people to progress into employment or further training. Young people will learn the skills needed to interact professionally in a work-place and gain the skills needed to increase employment opportunities.

Course structure includes: CV building, interview skills, understanding discrimination as well as functional skills Maths and English

 https://www.southessex.ac.uk/course/active-future-entry-level-3

 

Vocational Pathway courses at L1:

Courses offered across the curriculum – Please see online prospectus

https://www.southessex.ac.uk/search

USP (Palmers and SEEVIC) - Pathways:

 

 

Providing a five-day provision for learners, the Pathways programme is designed for young people who would benefit from studying within a supported environment. Progression on from this could be a L1 vocational programme, the supported internship programme or employment.

USP (Palmers and SEEVIC) – Skills to Employment Progression (STEP):

Created for young people who learn better through practical experiences but may not be confident about their next steps, the STEP programme enables students to get into work-based learning and back into education.

https://www.uspcollege.ac.uk/courses-apprenticeships/our-courses/our-foundation-courses/skills-to-employment-progression-step/

USP (Palmers and SEEVIC) Supported internship:

 

 

Designed for 16 – 24 year-olds who are aiming to secure a job, this programme helps young people with disabilities or learning difficulties to take the first step into employment in a way which is tailored to meet their needs.

Most students have progressed from the pathways programme into the supported internship as a step between college and employment.

https://www.uspcollege.ac.uk/courses-apprenticeships/foundation-learning/our-foundation-courses/supported-internship/

USP (Palmers and SEEVIC) – Level 1 Vocational Studies:

By developing relevant skills and vocational knowledge, this aims to ensure all students can progress through education with confidence.

USP (Palmers and SEEVIC) Traineeships:

Created for students who prefer to learn through practical experience. This course will prepare young people for employment or an apprenticeship by developing work-ready skills, English and Maths as well as taking part in a work placement.

USP (Palmers and SEEVIC) – Vocational Pathways courses at L1:

Courses offered across the curriculum – For more information, please see the online prospectus.

https://www.uspcollege.ac.uk/courses-apprenticeships/our-courses/our-foundation-courses/pathways

USP (Palmers and SEEVIC) – Pathways Foundation Programme:

Pathways programme is designed for young people who would benefit from learning within a supported environment. Students on the programme receive help to develop their independent living skills to prepare for adulthood, whilst studying Functional Skills or GCSEs in English and Maths, depending on entry qualifications. There are no formal qualifications required for this programme. It is designed for young people with a recognised learning difficulty and/or disability who have been in receipt of an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

St Clere’s - Hearing Impairment (HI) Resource Base:

 

The team supporting these students comprises of the Head of the Resource Base who is a Qualified Teacher of the Deaf, Communication Support Workers, a Deaf Instructor and Specialist Learning Support Assistants. We also have a dedicated Transition Coordinator for Key Stage 2-3 (Primary to Secondary) and 4-5 (Secondary to Further Education).

St Clere’s offers total communication methods ranging from British Sign Language (BSL) to Oral Communication. Most students wear hearing aids and have additional FM radio aid equipment to help them access spoken information in lessons.

The role of the resource base is to support the Deaf and Hearing Impaired students educationally, socially and emotionally to ensure they are fully included in school life alongside their hearing peers. Students are encouraged to become confident, independent members of the school community through support from a Key Worker. In addition to this, they provide a Social and Communication Skills Scheme (Lego Club) within the Resource Base.

Watch the video below

 

 

Head of HI Resource Base: Mrs H Lill: [email protected]
Head of Thurrock Sensory Service: Mrs H Brice: [email protected]

St Clere’s – Visual Impairment (VI) Resource Base:

St Clere’s School is host to the Thurrock resource Centre for secondary students with a visual impairment. The students are funded by the Local Education Authority. The Resource is based in purpose-built accommodation within the main school. The centre provides support for students so that they can work within the main school classes, following the same curriculum as their peers. Assistance varies according to the identified needs of the individual and their visual impairment. The students are supported by a team of qualified specialist support staff and three teachers for visually impaired young people, who prepare materials and provide appropriate support in class. Print materials and diagrams are adapted and modified to large print, tactile medium and Braille. A range of low vision aids, specialist equipment and computer-based magnification and speech software is available.

Head of VI Resource Base: Mrs Alison Rivers - [email protected]
Head of Thurrock Sensory Service: Mrs H Brice - [email protected]

http://www.st-cleres.thurrock.sch.uk/255/hearing-impaired-resource

Additional courses are available outside of Thurrock and can be discussed as required if a local college is not able to support the learner’s needs.


Make Happen are organising a webinar to take place on the 9th December for students with a disability, to discuss university and what to expect.

Would you be able to forward the link below to any students who have an aspiration of attending university.

Please let me know if you have any further questions please contact Gunda Walendy [email protected] Website: https://www.makehappen.org/


Link to sign up: https://www.makehappen.org/event/9-december-2020-send-yourself-to-university/

Employability Programme 16 – 25 years.

Next steps employability programme is a programme for 16 to 25 year olds known to Thurrock Council as having been ‘Looked After’ or a ‘Care Leaver’. The programme aims to provide work experience for young people to ensuring that they have valid and relevant experience within their CV in order to be competitive in the jobs and apprenticeships market. Placements will be targeted to individual client need where possible. The programme supports the clients into and through their work placements in order to gain a positive experience. Prior to any placement starting young people will take part in an employability programme, which is designed to support them in gaining confidence and providing skills to gain and maintain employment. Employability sessions are currently delivered online using Google classrooms consisting of 4 x 2 hour sessions.

Employability sessions are offered directly to clients by PA’s working from Inspire Thurrock Careers, After Care workers of Care Leavers (18-25 years) and Thurrock’s virtual school who support Looked After Children aged between 16-18. Programme runs once a month with a group of no more than 6 learners.