Supported Learning

Our Supported Learning programmes are designed to help young people develop their life skills, independence, and employability skills.  They enable young people to access their community and manage their health and wellbeing needs.

Our supported learning courses, at both Cambridge and Huntingdon campuses, are personalised and help our learners prepare for their adult lives.

For those with complex needs

The Gateway/IC pathway is for young people aged 16 – 24 who have a variety of complex needs. They may have ASD, high sensory needs, and limited communication skills. This pathway is uniquely built around the learner, their needs, and their plans for the future. 

For those with severe learning difficulties

Learning for Life is for young people aged 16 – 24 who have severe learning difficulties. This pathway concentrates on developing communication skills, community participation, building basic skills and skills for life so that each person is able to make progress in their independence and ability to speak up about their own choices.

Aspire is a pathway for learners that need to build their skills to move on to the pathways that have more accredited learning within them.  Aspire can be a finishing course for Learning for Life learners or a starting course for those that want to move on through the Entry 2 and Entry 3 pathways but may lack the confidence or ability in basic skills.

Preparation for Independence.  This pathway is a good starting point for learners who have moderate learning difficulties or for those learners who have successfully completed our Aspire pathway.

For those with moderate or specific learning difficulties

Archway is an Entry Level 3 pathway suitable for learners with moderate or specific learning difficulties, who need time to develop their confidence, social skills, and ability to study with greater independence.  A mixture of business, employability, enterprise, and life skills this course is an excellent starting point for learners who are joining from mainstream education or special schools and have already gained Entry 2 qualifications.

Getting students ready for work

In Supported learning, we have 5 vocational pathways. All are 3 days per week with work experience organised on a non-college day.

  The vocational pathways are all 1 or 2 years in length, (3 years for catering only) with a view that they lead on to employment or supported internship. Those pathways are:

• Catering and Hospitality based at St John’s College, Cambridge: Entry Level 3 and Level 1
• Small Animal Care: Entry Level 3 and Level 1
• Retail: Level 1
• Hospitality: Level 1
• Land Based Operations: Level 1
• Introduction to Sport and Leisure Industries: Entry Level 3 and Level 1

Supported Interns have two days placed with a suitable employer where they are taught carefully and systematically to do the job to a high standard.  Learners are fully supported to start and are gradually offered less support so they become more independent.  Travel training is also part of the offer.

Courses suitable for adult learners with supported learning needs

This programme offers students the opportunity to learn practical skills whilst improving and maintaining basic skills.  Students can choose from the following areas of interest and can attend for one or two days a week.  There is a one-off college registration fee of £35 for the Adult For All Programme plus a fee for each subject chosen. For information, contact the Head of Supported Learning programmes, Alison Goold, .