Foundation Learning

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND DISABILITIES (SEND)

South Tyneside College is a general further education college with specialist provision for young people, aged 16-24, with special learning needs or learning difficulties.

WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY 

We offer you a Foundation Learning package of support which is unique.

Our aim is to work with you to give you skills and confidence and the opportunity to meet new friends and explore new opportunities, at a pace that suits you. Simply put, we make sure you have the best experience you can so that you can be the best you can be in the future.

WAYS TO STUDY: 

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) 

For those with learning difficulties or special learning needs, it’s important to find the right college with a strong support framework to support the young person’s next step. That’s why for students aged 16-24, we offer a unique package of Foundation Learning with four different ‘Pathways to Adulthood’ courses, from pre-entry level to level 1.

With a mixture of classroom, practical and enriching activities, our aim is to equip students with skills and confidence and to explore NEW opportunities at a pace that feels right for them.

Closeup shot of an unrecognisable university student using a digital tablet in the library at campus

We’re now working in partnership with Skills Builder to offer the Skills Builder Universal Framework for all students with special educational needs in order for them to Prepare for Adulthood.

The Skills Builder Framework aims to build a set of essential skills to succeed in life.

The essential skills are defined as: Listening, Speaking, Problem Solving, Creativity, Staying Positive, Aiming High, Leadership and Teamwork.

Through the Skills Builder Framework, we can support our students to understand their existing skills and identify gaps they might have as well as see what progress looks like by getting to know what the next steps are to improve their essential skills further.

1. PREPARING FOR INDEPENDENCE

This programme is suitable for students with Special Educational Needs who need further support in developing their individual skills whilst preparing for adulthood

2. PREPARING FOR EDUCATION

This programme will help prepare students who want to follow a career in service industries but are not yet ready for mainstream programmes.

3. PREPARATION FOR VOCATIONAL STUDIES

This programme is suitable for those students who have not yet reached the academic level required to study at Level 2 and above and need support to develop educational and/or resilience skills to cope in mainstream environment.

4. PREPARATION FOR EMPLOYMENT

This programme is suitable for those students who wish to progress directly into employment.

5. PREPARATION FOR CONSTRUCTION

Preparation for construction is ideal for anyone who wants a career in construction but isn’t sure which trade is best for them. This hands-on course covers basic construction skills in areas like painting and decorating and carpentry and joinery, as well as the development of English and maths. The course is designed to boost your confidence and skills and help you decide on your next steps. After successfully completing the course, you will be guaranteed entry on to any of our Level 1 construction course. Long term careers depend on the path you chose at Level 1 but this is a great starting point to build a successful future.

 

  • Excellent teaching and support through small class sizes
  • Planned and supported transition from school to college
  • Individual learning plans and targets
  • Vocational tasters
  • Work experience
  • Enterprise skills
  • Access to speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy
  • Key English and Maths sessions
  • North East Sports Academy with the chance to get involved in the Pan-disability Football Academy alongside studies.

Simply put, we make sure they have the best experience possible, so they can be the best they can be in the future

Complete your details below to apply for our Foundation Learning courses.

We want to make sure you have all the information you need to make the right decision about where the person you care for studies after leaving school. To make sure we provide the right support and guidance for the person you care for, we recommend you come along to one of our events.

You can also get in touch with our tutors Reece, Lauren and Chris who can help support:

Reece Layton

Lauren Newham

Chris Scott

View our events here.

Can a young person access vocational options?
Yes, some of our delivery is through vocational options, or if they want to spend time in a specific area that can be arranged. Examples of some vocational options include: hairdressing, beauty, catering, construction plus others.
How many hours a week will the course run?
The course is 17.5 hours per week, usually over 3.5 days.
My young person suffers from anxiety, can they follow a reduced timetable?
Depending on individual needs, we can arrange for a reduced timetable, with a view to increasing this in time.
What are the progression opportunities?

We have a number of different options; a young person may remain with us for more than a year, depending on their need.  Or they can progress to mainstream, either a skills based course such as catering or hairdressing, or a more vocational route such as health and social care, media, or any other suitable course.

They may progress onto our supported internship and move on to paid employment.

A small number of our students will progress to Adult Social Care.

Can young people get transport to college?
If the young person is an independent traveller, there is a bus pass option.  For those young people who are not independent travellers, and have an EHCP, transport can be arranged through your local authority.

Apply Now

    1

    Personal Details

    2

    School and Qualifications

    3

    Help and Support

    4

    Contact

    About you

    If you are under 18, we will use this to contact your parent regarding your progress and any important announcements.

    Address

    Telephone

    Last school attended

    If you are still at school please tell us the name of the school you attend

    Qualifications

    Please separate each qualification by using a comma. Leave the text area blank if you have no qualifications.

    Support Required

    We welcome your application if you have a learning difficulty, a disability or other additional support needs. Please help us to ensure that you get the most from your time at South Tyneside College by ticking either box A or B.

    A) I would like to talk to someone about supportB) I do not need any support at the moment, but I know I can ask for support if I need it later.

    Please tell us why you need support, for example dyslexia, mobility issues, deafness/loss of hearing, loss of vision, learning difficulties, medical issues, mental health issues, personal support issues or any other reasons

    I require financial guidance

    Please select all that apply

    To ensure we can offer a full support package during your time with us, please select all that apply:

    I have an Educational Healthcare Plan (EHCP) I am a looked after child I am a young carer I am care experienced I have a social worker

    How did you hear about us?

    Data Protection

    Tyne Coast College takes your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information to provide you with the products and services which you have requested from us and to administer your account.

    From time to time we would like to contact you with details of other courses we provide. If you consent to us contacting you for this purpose please tick to indicate your preferred contact method.

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    Get in touch

    Our team is always ready to help. So if you have questions on courses, your career, or anything else, complete this contact form and we’ll be in touch.