Working Towards Living Independently (Aspire Brierley Hill) OCR

This course is designed for young people with a special educational need or disability wanting to develop their independence, social and work-based skills, where appropriate, across many areas of interest. Students engage in practical, meaningful activity to learn about their community and opportunities therein, personal rights and responsibilities, their own and others' social and emotional well-being as well as classroom based activities to develop skills such as the use of IT, art and creativity, self-care, health and safety in the home and cookery. All Aspire curriculum promotes preparation for adulthood which includes personal independence, employment, looking after yourself in the home, travel and community cohesion with Working towards Living Independently being of particular benefit to young people who may require the support of social care upon leaving education.

Please note that ‘full time’ courses are between 16-18 hours per week and are not 5-day provision. Maths and English is embedded into this study programme.

If your travel is provided by school, sixth-form or local authority, this will need to be reapplied for prior to starting college.

Working towards Living Independently can include a range of activities and units that are tailored to suit the interests of individual students within the group. Possible units could be, but aren't limited to, the following:

• Personal well-being
• Physical health, sexual health & mental health
• Preparing a meal
• Looking after myself in the home
• Visiting places of importance to me (Doctors, hospital, banks)
• Personal finance & budgeting
• Employment & volunteering opportunities
• Criminal Justice & the law
• Personal communication skills and use of sensory aids
• Creative skills, sensory art, crafts and music
• Community inclusion
• Enterprise activities
• Embedded literacy and numeracy

Students are assessed through witness statements, Q&A, observation and practical application, collated as a portfolio of evidence.

Maths and English is not formally assessed but embedded into the curriculum.

Small financial contribution to educational visits, when required. Personal stationery. Weekly contribution to cooking ingredients.

OCR Life & Living Skills Entry Level 1

All Aspire courses are for one academic year. Progression onto further study is dependent on maintained attendance, positive records of behaviour and evidence of significant progress made within the year.

Upon completion of their time at college, students will be supported with advice and guidance around transition out of college, adult social care referrals and external providers at either the EHCP annual review or parents consultation evening.

Applicants will be invited to attend a needs assessment to ensure support needs can be met. Following this, a mandatory taster session is arranged to provide transition into the area and for suitability for the programme to be assessed. If there are any concerns about suitability or our ability to meet support needs, this will be discussed with you. There are no formal entry requirements for this course.