This course helps you become more independent and confident in everyday life. You'll learn how to make informed choices, build friendships, and take an active role in your community.
Through a range of practical and interactive activities, you'll develop skills such as cooking, budgeting, travel training, gardening, and working as part of a team. You'll also have the chance to plan and run a real enterprise project.
You'll explore your local community, learn about healthy lifestyles, discover new hobbies and interests, and understand how to access support when you need it. You may also choose to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
By the end of the course, you'll be better prepared for adult life and more confident about your future.
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What will I study?
The units you will study are likely to include: Core units:
- Living in and contributing to your community
- Making support work for You
- Speaking up for yourself
- How to stay physically fit
- Looking after your own mental wellbeing Specialist units:
- Understanding how to live independently - Looking after your own home
- Healthy Eating
- Budgeting
- How to ask for help if you feel unsafe - how to report incidents relating to personal safety
- Digital Skills for everyday life
- Making Choices - Recognising own skills for personal development
- Using Social and leisure facilities
- Understanding relationships Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) *All units are subject to change and may be withdrawn.
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Who is this course for?
This course is ideal if you want to become more independent, make new friends and learn more about your local community. You'll discover what support and opportunities are available to you, helping you make informed choices about your future. As part of the programme, you'll work towards an Entry Level Diploma in Personal and Social Skills.
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How is the course assessed?
- By the end of their programme, you will have completed a portfolio of evidence through unit assignments based on your main qualification.
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Your Study Programme
If you are aged 16-18, you will join a Study Programme this could be a vocational or technical qualification. We will make sure you are working at the right level on your core qualification and are challenged to achieve the highest level of qualification you can.
Work experience will be part of your study programme and complement your college study and prepare you for employment. You will also get involved in activities to help you develop life skills and to build your confidence so you can make progress in your career.
If you have chosen to study for a T Level qualification, this will involve college-based theory and practice lessons along with relevant work placement to enable you to gain the knowledge, skills, and behaviours that employers are looking for. Weekly timetables will include tutorial support which may comprise of full group activities or one to one sessions to discuss individual progress or support needs.
All students will continue to improve their maths and English and if you don't have a grade 4 (C) at GCSE, we will work with you towards achieving that goal (subject to specific entry requirements for particular courses).
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Knowledge
You will develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of:
You will develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of:
- How to communicate effectively.
- Understand the world you live in.
- What independence is and why it is important to your future choices.
- Understand your rights and responsibilities, support services and who can support you in your daily life.
- Travel safety and staying safe.
- How to work with others.
- Understand adult relationships including consent.
- How to stay physically fit
- How to keep mentally healthy
- How to make positive choices and friendships.
- Explore and take part in hobbies and activities of interest.
- Understand how to live independently including problem solving (cooking financial awareness/budgeting/shopping/travel)
- How to improve your English, maths, and digital skills.
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Skills
You will have the ability to:
You will have the ability to:
- Apply your communication skills in a variety of contexts for example self-advocacy.
- Make healthy lifestyle choices.
- How to live independently to include shopping, cooking meals, washing clothes, budgeting.
- Maximising community engagement through travel training and knowing your community.
- Identifying and developing a wider range of skills to support your independence and choice making.
- Identifying work skills and how to improve them through voluntary work, projects, enterprise, and enrichment.
- Understanding how to apply skills in different contexts for example working with others, taking responsibility etc.
- Where work is an outcome, you will be able to identify your aspirations and map your future aspirations, further learning, and voluntary/paid work. You will be able to make effective use of digital skills to research the job market/charities/voluntary work opportunities, write a CV, write a covering letter, and apply for jobs/vocational or academic courses.
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Behaviours
What is required?
What is required?
- Act as a role model, contributing to teamwork.
- Working in a professional way for example respectfully listening to other people's opinions.
- Taking responsibility for your own work, accepting feedback in a positive way, using initiative, and showing resilience.
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General info
You may be required to go on trips or purchase a kit and uniform to undertake this course. Information about individual items and their associated costs will be sent to you in June/July before you enrol.
Some students may be eligible for support from the Student Bursary Scheme with the costs of coming to college. Applications are available on the college website under Student Support. If you require further assistance or would like to speak with a member of Student Services, please email financial.support@northamptoncollege.ac.uk or call 01604 734333.
If you are applying for financial assistance, please do not purchase any kit items. If your application is successful, the necessary items will be provided to you.
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Progression and Career Opportunities
Independent or supported living. Progression from Entry Level 3 to Level 1 Certificate. Voluntary or paid work.
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Entry Requirements for new students
There are no specific academic entry requirements for this course. Suitability will be discussed with you at consultation, including whether the course meets your individual support needs and aspirations.
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Admissions Process
We recommend that you attend one of our exciting open events so that you can look around the department, the college and meet the tutors. You are welcome to do this before or after you apply.
These events have proved very successful in ensuring students and their families see the best of what the college has to offer such as our inspirational teaching areas, teachers, library facilities, and places to eat.
Once you have applied our experienced Enrolment Team will consider your application carefully and will let you know, by email, if the College would like to make you a conditional offer based on you meeting the specified entry requirements.
If your predicted grades or career aims suggest that an alternative subject area or course level would be more appropriate for you at this stage, we will contact you either by telephone, email, or text. If you have told us that you have some additional support needs, we will contact you to find out more so that we can help you.
