SEND
South Thames Colleges Group (STCG) is committed to providing training and work experience opportunities for students with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. The focus of our study programmes is to embed independence and employability skills to enable our learners to secure positive and meaningful progression. This could be into independent living, or into the workplace through vocational study within other specialist areas within a College.
Courses at Carshalton College
Courses at Kingston College
Courses at Merton College
Courses at South Thames College
We take students all year round! Foundation Learning Team
Foundation Learning At STCG
Each of our colleges has a dedicated provision for 16-25-year olds with significant learning and social communication support needs.
We offer an integrated programme of practical skills and qualifications supported by our in-house therapy team who offering Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy to all of our learners who need this specialised support. (link to therapy team webpage).
The needs of new students are carefully assessed by our tutors and therapists, who work closely with the young person and their family to create a three-year Progression Pathway.
Our programme:
- builds independent living skills through a programme of lessons and activities in college and in the wider community.
- develops communication, social and independence skills through an individualised programme focussing on meaningful, achievable goals.
- enhances learners’ numeracy and literacy skills by working towards nationally-recognised qualifications and by embedding practical, real world skills in literacy and numeracy throughout the wider curriculum.
- offers each learner a programme of work experience, initially within our in-house college shop, garden and cafes and eventually with our partner employers in the local community and beyond.
- maximises learners’ IT skills through both dedicated IT lessons and the use of accessible assistive technologies so that they are able to access online opportunities and use the software they will need to progress into employment or a mainstream programme.
- offers a arrange of enrichment activities and opportunities through our academic and pastoral tutorial programmes.
Based on an assessment the learner will receive a curriculum programme tailored to meet their specific needs around the preparing for adulthood agenda. Our team will liaise closely with parents and carers to make sure that learning is transferred from College to home.
Attendance can be flexible between 1 and five 5 days per week depending on the pathway selected. Learners can join the provision throughout the year.
Please complete the brief application/enquiry form below and one of our team will be in touch.
Frequenty Asked Questions
- What is covered on the Foundation Programmes?
Each programme has a combination of communication, social, independence and employability skills delivered by specialist SEND teachers. Students are streamed for Maths and English so that they can work at the right level in these key areas. Groups will work towards Entry Level Functional Skills or GCSE qualifications but only take the exams when they are comfortably ready to do so. Literacy and numeracy skills are embedded throughout the wider curriculum with a focus on real world, age-appropriate resources. There are dedicated IT lessons in our computer suites and opportunities for student to hone their IT skills across the curriculum so that they access apps that can support their independence and build the skills they will need for further study or employment.
- Do students take part in work-experience programmes?
- How long do the students stay on the programme?
- Is there access to Speech and Language Therapy/ Physiotherapy/ Occupational Therapy?
- How many days a week is the course?
- How many students are there in each class group? What is the staff/pupil ratio?
- Are Foundation students able to access all of the College facilities?
- What kinds of skills are taught within the programme
- What have students gone on to do once they have left the course
Take a look at our STCG SEND Local Offer
Foundation Learning Courses
- Aurora Provision
The Aurora provision is South Thames Colleges Group's specialist, non-residential FE centre for young adults with moderate to severe learning disabilities who may have Autism, behaviours of concern or complex support needs. The provision is based at Merton College. The Aurora provision contains eight learning areas and is situated predominantly in a quiet area on the College site, adjacent to attractive parkland. It has its own dedicated entrance, a garden, kitchen, laundry facilities, and large greenhouse. It has access to a dedicated common room and quiet area and allows students to select their preferred area for lunch etc. The provision is designed to be a safe, secure and welcoming environment for our students. They share a dedicated specialist team who work together to deliver bespoke education, therapy and training for young adults from 16 to 25 years of age.
- Pre-Foundation
- Foundation 1
- Foundation 2
- Foundation Plus
