L.I.F.E
Please contact us on 01727 737780 / 737198 to arrange an appointment. Or email Life@oaklands.ac.uk
Springfield Level
PE
Full Time 1 Year St Albans
Springfield is a specialist provision based at the St Albans Campus which caters for young people aged 16- 22 who have either a profound and complex or severe learning difficulty or disability, and may or may not require additional medical support in order to access to curriculum. This also includes young people whose needs may fall within the Autistic Spectrum and who may have associated communication difficulties and require behavioural support. Following initial assessment, students will be placed with the most appropriate peer group that best reflects their needs and abilities. Curriculum delivery will be led by the Aims and Outcomes as detailed on Education Health and Care Plans. Springfield and Supported Learning are accredited by the National Autistic Society, which highlighted how students are treated as individuals, rather than following a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
All students are encouraged to use switches to operate equipment and to have control of their local environment.
What will I learn? Springfield is split into programmes depending on the needs of the individual student. These include:
The main aims of these courses is to promote basic independence, develop choice making skills through the use of pictures and symbols and to develop the students individual communication strategies using Makaton, PECS, Voca, Eye Gaze and other assisted communication technologies.
Core Skills and Encounters These programmes are designed for students with Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties who require a sensory based curriculum. The programs are centered on individual need, but are intended to address the most basic need for sensory discrimination and self-awareness as a starting point. Learning will be encouraged through activities that will develop the ability to “select, integrate and derive meaning from” these experiences.
There is recognition that communication from students is likely to be heavily dependent on carer interpretation and staff continuity will be maintained as far as possible in order to facilitate this. Some students will be able to work with early stages of symbol recognition alongside objects of reference. Choices and Options These courses are for students with a severe learning disability requiring significant assistance to access the curriculum but capable of engaging in more formal activities that will encourage basic independence skills where appropriate.
All students are empowered through switch work and expressive communication strategies to exercise control over their own environment, allowing them to make meaningful choices. Where appropriate, students will be supported and encouraged to develop simple independent living skills such as basic food preparation and self-help skills. Continues...
To apply online visit www.oaklands.ac.uk
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