Supported Learning (SEND)

How many days a week are these Supported Learning Pathways?

The following Supported Learning Pathways are each delivered over 4 days a week: Pathway to Adulthood, Learning for Work and Pathway to Employment.

For information on Pathway to College, Pathway to Achieve and Supported Internship programmes, please see their FAQ sections.

What is a typical day like on a Supported Learning Pathway?

A typical day may look different depending on which Pathway you are following.

All students are welcomed into college and settled into their day with a small group tutorial in the morning before they are supported to undertake a range of accessible and engaging tasks, activities and projects which focus on building learning, life and work skills.

Please view our SEND Pathways video and booklet to gain further insight into each of our Supported Learning Pathways.

What are the start and finish times of a typical day in Supported Learning?

Supported Learning students on Pathway to Adulthood, Learning for Work and Pathway to Employment are met and welcomed into college at 9.00am in the morning via the Supported Learning entrance into Minden House.

Students on these Pathways finish their day at 2.45pm and are supported to finish their day safely, leave Minden House via the Supported Learning exit and meet the identified person collecting them, their transport or, if travelling independently, confirm arrangements and make their way to their home or accommodation.

How many weeks over an academic year are students in?

The following Pathways are delivered 4 days per week: Pathway to Adulthood, Learning for Work and Pathway to Employment.

Students break for two weeks at half-terms and the college year finishes at the end of June.

We encourage students to take advantage of opportunities in their local communities on their days off and during the holidays.

For details on Pathway to Achieve, Pathway to College and Supported Internship programmes, please see their FAQ sections.

Is there support over lunchtime?

Yes, Supported Learning students have Learning Support Assistants to ensure their needs are met all the way through the day.

What do students learn on Supported Learning Pathways?

Students will further develop their Maths and English, independence, community, employability, and personal and social skills.

The learning plans for each student are co-created by students and staff working together in order to shape individual learning journeys towards future goals that are important and meaningful to the student.

Please view our SEND Pathways video and booklet to gain further insight into each of our Supported Learning Pathways.

What next steps and progression route can Supported Learning Pathways lead to?

Pathway to Adulthood focuses on enabling students to develop the skills they need to go on to live as independently as possible in the future.

Learning for Work students, once they display they are ready for their next step, usually progress onto Pathway to Employment.

Pathway to Employment students who have been able to positively engage with employers over work experience placements, may feel ready for a Supported Internship. Others may, if they feel confident and display readiness, move onto a mainstream FE course.

For information on Pathway to College and Pathway to Achieve and Supported Internship programmes, please see their FAQ sections.

How many days a week is the pathway?

Pathway to Achieve is taught over 4 days a week.

What is a typical day like on Pathway to Achieve?

This Pathway offers a supportive and welcoming environment with staff who help students settle into their sessions and learning for the day in a way that suits them.

Sessions usually start with a fun ice-breaker activity before introducing the main topic or theme of the session. After this, students will be supported to work on their subject of the day (Personal and Social Skills, Employability or English or Maths) and undertake lots of engaging tasks, activities and projects with group discussions or quizzes to check learning and wind down before the end of the day.

What are the start and finish times of a typical day?

The Pathway to Achieve day starts at 10:00am, with short breaks between sessions and an hours lunch break, and students finish their day at 3:30pm.

How does drop off at the start of the day and pick up at the end of the day work?

A member of the Pathway to Achieve team will be there in the morning to meet students at the Supported Learning entrance to the college which is quieter and less busy. They will welcome the students into college and their classrooms.

At the end of the day, a member of the Pathway to Achieve team will support students to leave college safely via the Supported Learning exit.

Is there support over lunchtime?

Yes, staff are in the building for the whole day and a Learning Support Assistant will usually stay in the classroom for lunch too.

What do students learn on Pathway to Achieve?

This Pathway is very person-centred and embraces student-led learning so that each individual is working towards meaningful goals for them. Students will be supported to explore, develop and apply their learning, life and work skills to make positive progress towards their future goals and planned progression routes.

Please see our SEND Pathways video and booklet for further information on programme content.

What next steps and progression route can Pathway to Achieve lead to?

Pathway to Achieve can lead to students progressing onto a mainstream FE vocational study programme, an apprenticeship or other work-related learning programmes or may lead to voluntary or paid employment depending on the goals and aspirations of the individual and what they want for the future.

Who is Pathway to College for?

Pathway to College offers individualised learning programmes to students with an EHCP who are not yet able to engage on any of our other SEND Pathways due to a range of complex and significant barriers and impacting factors that they may be experiencing.

How many days a week are Pathway to College programmes?

On Pathway to College, we shape each student’s learning programme around their needs to establish and support a pattern of attendance that is manageable and sustainable for them. We aim to support our students to gradually build up to engaging in up to 15 learning hours per week.

What is a typical day like on a Pathway to College programme?

One student’s day may look entirely different to another student’s day on Pathway to College. Each student has their own unique programme which is designed and built to meet their individual needs, reflect their interests and cover the learning and skills they need to make progress towards the future goals that are important to them. Programmes may be taught in a range of different settings depending on where the student feels comfortable to engage and can include a variety of options such as: creative and expressive arts, woodwork, spending time at a Care Farm, developing ICT skills, supported work experience or visits to places of particular interest to the student.

How big are the classes?

Depending on the individual needs of each student and the specific barriers and impacting factors that they may be experiencing, we may deliver on a one to one basis, engage students in small nurture groups or support gradual acclimatisation into larger classes as and when students feel ready and able to try this.

What do students learn on their Pathway to College programme?

Each Pathway to College programme is unique to the student it has been designed and developed with and for but an integral part of the work we do is supporting students to build their confidence and self-esteem, develop their personal and social skills, gently extend their comfort zone to feel more ready to manage in new and different situations and make positive choices towards future learning, life and work goals.

What next steps/ progression route can Pathway to College lead to?

Depending on your future goals, Pathway to College can lead to students engaging with a range of appropriate community engagement opportunities, progressing onto a Supported Learning Pathway, full time vocational course at college or into voluntary or paid employment, an Apprenticeship or other training opportunity.

Where can I find help with transport issues?

Please visit our Transport page.

I need to find out about financial support, who can help me?

Please visit our Financial Support page.

How many days a week are Supported Internship programmes?
Supported Internship programmes are 3 days a week. Our Interns are in college for 1 day a week and at work placements for 2 days a week.

What is a typical day like for a Supported Intern?
Students begin their college day with tutorial where Personal and Social Development topics are covered and work placement diaries are completed. We then look at developing key employability and digital skills that are important for work. Maths and English is embedded and developed throughout all sessions.

A typical work placement day for an Intern will vary according to the employer but, wherever our Interns are placed, they will be expected to take on roles and responsibilities within the setting and complete tasks and duties as an employee would.

What are the start and finish times of a typical day?
College day begins at 9am and ends at 4:15pm. Placement times will vary according to the employer.

How many weeks over an academic year are students in?
Students are in college for 32 weeks a year and half terms are two weeks. Once learners become independent at their work placement, they will be able to attend their work placements during the first week of half term.

How does drop off at the start of the day and pick up at the end of the day work?
All learners, whether travelling independently or using a taxi, are welcomed by staff at the Supported Learning entrance to Minden House and signed into college. At the end of the college day, Interns are signed out and leave via the Supported Learning exit of Minden House.

Is there support over lunchtime?
Supported Interns are independent over break and lunchtimes but there is support available if needed.

What do students learn on a Supported Internship programme?
Students will learn key employability skills such as interview techniques, how to write a CV, digital skills, problems solving skills, using initiative, effective communication skills, team work skills and responsibility. Students will also further develop functional maths and English skills needed for work.

What next steps/ progression route can ta Supported Internship lead to?
Progression routes for Interns include paid employment, voluntary work or further work-related training opportunities in the community.