Your Choice in Medway SEN

e c i o h c Your

2 1 0 2 y a w in Med Information for students needing additional support

In Medway we understand that students learn in different ways and at different speeds.

This booklet is for: â—? students who are not yet ready for a level 2 course; â—? students who have the ability for a higher level course but who would benefit

from additional support in order to achieve.

The Your Choice in Medway website www.yourchoiceinmedway.org.uk shows all courses at different levels. You can apply for these courses online (usernames and passwords were posted out at the end of October). Our main Your Choice in Medway booklet is available in schools, libraries, from Medway Youth Trust Connnexions and www.yourchoiceinmedway.org.uk

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Transition: Moving into adulthood

Advice to parents Your child’s school will support you and your son/daughter to develop a transitional plan, a document that details what your child would like to happen in the future and what support they will need to achieve this.

You will also be invited to attend regular transition review meetings, where you can review the plan and continue to talk about your child’s options.

During this stage, you and your child will have to decide whether they will leave school at 16-years-old or stay on until they are 18 or 19-years-old.

You should visit local colleges, schools or day care services, or think about arranging work experience placements.

“The statement of special educational needs lapses once your son or daughter leaves designated school provision.”

Transition starts at 16-years-old when we compile an individual needs profile. So as a parent/carer you and the people supporting your son/daughter in their Post-16 placement will have to think about and plan for the future.

At 18-years-old, all children legally become adults and your child will need to be assessed for adult services, even if they have decided to stay at school.

Changes to benefits or charges for services may also occur.

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Schools and colleges Abbey Court Abbey Court’s provision for further education is located on the school’s Strood site.

The school’s motto is “We grow people” and the school has excellent resources in all areas allowing all students full curriculum access regardless of special needs.

Students are involved in active learning all day and we offer a full community-based education. Students are given opportunities to work in other schools, shopping areas and sports and leisure environments. All students are engaged in accredited work programmes including Towards Independence, the ASDAN and Duke of Edinburgh Award schemes. Vocational courses at North West Kent College and visits to other higher education establishments are also offered. All students have individual education plans ensuring that their personal educational needs are fully met.

All pupils at Abbey Court have severe learning difficulties, or profound and multiple learning difficulties as their main presenting need. Some pupils have additional educational needs, such as visual impairment, hearing or sensory impairment, autism and/or physical disability. All pupils at the school have statements of special educational need.

The school admission policy (available on request from the school) clearly outlines the procedure and guidance for successful applications. If a child meets the admissions criteria the following action is taken: • Either informal or formal referral from Medway Education Department through the decision making group.

• Or direct contact from a parent which must later be confirmed by a referral from the education department.

Once contact is made the prospective pupil and parents visit the school to meet staff on an informal basis and are shown around the school during its working day.

Please contact Karen Joy, Headteacher for further information 01634 338220.

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Bradfields School This innovative and forward-looking school provides education for 235 students aged 11 to 19-years-old. Students primarily experience Complex Learning Disabilities and Difficulties (CLDD) including speech, emotional, sensory, physical and autistic spectrum disabilities. From September 2012 this will include further provision for an additional 40 complex Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) students aged 5 to 25-years-old.

Bradfields School aims to inspire its students, helping them to set and achieve ambitions.

The curriculum delivered is similar to that of any secondary school, except class groups are smaller and the curriculum is tailored to meet the particular and special needs of students. In addition the PSHE and citizenship course includes developing social and emotional skills (SEAL – Social Emotional Aspects of Learning, and EI – Emotional Intelligence) and independent learning and living skills, with opportunities to practise in a real-life setting, through work related learning and placements.

The following subjects are currently offered in Key Stage 5: Entry Level – Adult Literacy; Adult Numeracy; Work Place Hazard Awareness; Music, Photography; French and Work-Related Learning; Level 1 and 2 – Certificate in Adult Literacy and Healthy Living (Eating and Exercise); ICT OCR National Level 1 and 2; AQA – Functional Skills; PSHE, Forestry; Science and Textiles; Sports Leaders Level; BTEC Art and Design; BTEC Hospitality; BTEC Construction; GCSE Religious Studies; ICT Diploma; Arts Award Bronze and Silver; Ascentis Work Experience and Gardening.

The curriculum is based around three themes: 1 Developing academic potential and the ability of students to transfer those skills to everyday life and work situations.

2 Developing emotional and social skills and levels of emotional intelligence to enable students to present and conduct themselves with confidence and independence in a range of real-life situations.

3 Developing an understanding and awareness of recreational and work-related settings and providing learning opportunities for engagement in both.

Post-16 provision at Bradfields continues these themes. The curriculum is being continually developed to provide a real life context to the academic and social development of each school student. This helps to successfully prepare them for independent living, local community engagement, continued learning, access to recreational opportunities and work place employment. This curriculum model is committed to the Getting a Life government initiative for students and young adults with learning difficulties.

Students will be able to transfer out of Bradfields to full-time vocational courses or work-placed careers when appropriate opportunities have been identified and secured. www.yourchoiceinmedway.org.uk

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Rivermead School Rivermead School is committed to providing learners with the opportunity to develop their skills and talents, supporting them to become independent adults. Equal opportunities is at the heart of the school’s ethos. The school’s aim is to prepare learners to make a successful transition to mainstream educational provision, where they will access the same choices as other young people in Medway.

The school provides a small, nurturing, environment and staff are experienced at supporting the needs of learners with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and other complex needs. It has a proven record in preparing learners for post-16 transition by working closely with partners to support each learner’s journey towards independence. As a result the majority of our learners make a successful transition at 16-years-old.

Rivermead’s small sixth form addresses the needs of learners who are not yet ready for a full transition to college, or other mainstream setting. We work with individuals to develop a focused programme of support that will build independence, advance understanding and enable them to achieve in the course of study they have chosen.

A place at Rivermead is offered on the condition that the learner follows and completes an agreed post-16 course in college or a school sixth form supported by Rivermead staff. A plan is agreed with the learner, parent/carer and other agencies to support progress towards increasing independence and eventual integration.

To arrange a visit, discuss provision or for any other enquiries, please contact Karen Watkin, Office Manager on 01634 338348.

MidKent College and Rivermead Partnership MidKent College and Rivermead School are working together to ensure that students currently studying in a specialist provision are offered a seamless transition into further education.

The partnership offers the best of both worlds: The support of a school together with the wide range of courses and facilities found in a college. MidKent College and Rivermead School will offer tailored provision, preparing students for the move into a supported course based entirely in the college. There are a number of benefits to this approach, including: • A year of smooth transition from school to college for students with complex needs who are highly vulnerable.

• The availability of a supported learning environment from 8am-5pm, Monday to Friday.

• A personalised learning package.

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MidKent College MidKent College offers a variety of full and part-time courses from its campuses in Gillingham and Maidstone. Students have access to excellent leisure and learning facilities, which include industry-standard workshops and labs, IT suites, hair and beauty salons, a travel agency, radio and television broadcasting studios, music and dance workshops, a professional theatre and a job shop.

Learning support at MidKent The college has a large Curriculum Access Support Team (CAST) to assist any learners with their support needs. Skilled support is available in a wide range of areas, including advice on physical support. The college’s Learning Support Assistants are also available for a variety of support needs.

Applying to the college: • Contact the college as soon as possible to discuss any support needs.

• Be sure to attend a college open evening.

• Complete an application form using www.midkent.ac.uk/how-toapply/full-time-courses or www.yourchoiceinmedway.org.uk • Complete the disabilities/support needs or learning difficulties sections on the form.

Applicants will then be invited to an interview with a member of the CAST team, after which a support package can be put in place. There will also be an interview with the course tutor to ensure that the necessary support and resources are in place when students start their chosen course.

Starting the course: There will be an induction programme to give students information about the facilities and resources available at college. Learners will also meet staff and other students, and be given details of the course and the support they will be receiving.

Adjustments will be made during the course if necessary.

Accessibility: Both campuses are easily accessible by bus and rail.

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Qualifications Qualification/grades needed to take courses at these levels

Level 3 Five GCSE grades A*-C Level 2

Foundation learning

Three GCSE grades D-G

BTEC Diploma NVQ Level 2 Apprenticeship

Diploma Level 1 Includes functional skills, Personal and Social Development and vocational skills at entry level 1-3 or level 1

NVQ Level 1

Foundation Learning This is Entry and Level 1 of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF).

It raises participation and achievement and ensures that appropriate progression opportunities are available to propel learners towards positive outcomes.

BTEC BTEC qualifications are offered at different levels and with different amounts of study time each week. All BTECs are vocational and all combine practical and theoretical study.

GCSE GCSEs are highly valued and may be necessary to move on to other courses or employment; so they will be useful whatever you are planning to do when you finish your course. Usually four D-E grades are seen as a Level 1 qualification and five A*-C GCSEs are a Level 2 qualification. â—? GCSEs can be studied alongside other qualifications such as national vocational

qualifications (NVQs).

Work-related learning Work-related learning activities help students learn about the world of work by experiencing and preparing for it. Work-related learning takes place in the context of the world of work and helps students develop knowledge, skills and understanding that will be useful in that world.

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Contacts and places for advice Children with disabilities and/or medical condition Medway Council’s Children and Adults – Learning and Caring directorate has a dedicated Disabled Children’s Team that offers a range of flexible services to allow disabled children to remain living at home with their families. The team works in partnership with health and voluntary organisations to offer families appropriate services to meet their individual needs.

The Disabled Children’s Team is based in a purpose-built resource centre called Parklands, in Oxford Road, Gillingham. For more information on the range of services available to parents and carers of disabled children please phone 01634 338500. The centre also carries out individual work with children and families where social work input or respite provision is needed.

Parents of disabled children are encouraged to join the disability register that is maintained at Parklands. The disability register offers families regularly-updated information that may be of interest to them. Information held on the register is used to plan new services and highlight the needs of local families.

Further information about the disability register can also be found on Medway’s positive parenting network.

Blind and visually impaired adults Medway Council's Children and Adults – Learning and Caring directorate works closely in co-ordination with the Kent Association for the Blind.

For more information visit www.kab.org.uk

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Financial help and advice Care to Learn Support with childcare costs ● Finance for young parents if they are under 20-years-old when starting

the course. ● The scheme pays up to £160 to one parent per child, to cover Ofsted

Registered childcare (and travel to this care).

For more information phone Directgov Learner Support Service on 0800 1218989

16 plus travel There is no free transport entitlement after the end of compulsory education (year 11) unless the pupil has a statement of SEN (detailing specialist school registered provision in part four) and distance requirements are met (see SEN transport policy).

Travel passes are available for a specified number of days per week. For example: A flexible one day pass is £160 per year or £53 per term, a flexible five day pass is £804 per year or £268 per term. Point-to-point passes, from home to school, are £606 per year or £202 per term.

Medway Youth Pass This scheme entitles all young people who live in Medway and hold a valid pass to pay half the adult fare at all times when travelling on any local bus service, up to the end of the academic year after their 18th birthday. The journey must start in Medway and can be to any destination in Medway or Kent, as long as any changes of bus are in Medway. ● A pass costs £5.50.

For more information: www.schoolstransportandfreemeals@medway.gov.uk Medway Council Student Services Operations Team 01634 331155

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Bursary Scheme for 16-19 year olds 1 A guaranteed payment (£1,200 bursary) to a small group of the most vulnerable.

2 A discretionary fund for schools, colleges, training providers and local authority to distribute. ● Around 12,000 16-19-year-olds are guaranteed bursaries of £1,200 a

year. This group is made up of children in care, care leavers and those on income support. Income support is paid to young people such as teenage parents, young people with severe disabilities, teenagers living away from their parents and young people whose parents have died. ● Schools and colleges can distribute the rest of the money to support any

student who faces genuine financial barriers to participation such as the cost of transport, food or equipment. They will have the freedom to decide the scale of the bursaries; to pay weekly, monthly, or annually; and link it to behaviour or attendance.

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Contact details Abbey Court Rede Court Road, Strood, Rochester ME2 3SP

01634 338220 www.abbeycourt.medway.sch.uk email: office@abbeycourt.medway.sch.uk

Bradfields School Churchill Avenue, Chatham ME5 0LB

01634 683990 www.bradfields.medway.sch.uk email: office@bradfields.medway.sch.uk

Rivermead School Forge Lane, Gillingham ME7 1UG

01634 338348 email: office@rivermead.medway.sch.uk

MidKent College - Medway Medway Road, Gillingham Kent ME7 1FN

01634 402020 (Course information line) 01634 383000 www.midkent.ac.uk email: course.enquiries@midkent.ac.uk

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