The curriculum has been created to accommodate a personalised timetable based on the needs of individual students. It engages students on and off site and both in and around the community. It is flexible and always focuses on the key priorities of the college, which are: to enable learners to develop skills that support a successful transition to adulthood; to promote and build upon their individual level of independence; and, where possible, to develop employment possibilities, travel training opportunities and help facilitate semi-independent living.
Assessment
Each student is assessed upon entry, and through observation, consultation and the results of the assessment, an Individual Learning Plan is devised that fits the desired outcomes and learning pathway of the individual student.
Functional Skills
Functional skills (literacy, numeracy and I.C.T.) are taught as discrete subjects in ability groups, but are also integrated into the whole curriculum to embed the knowledge and skills learned and also to place them into context within real life situations, e.g. handling money when out shopping.
Enterprise
The students enagage in Enterprise Projects that can involve making bird boxes, string art, greetings cards, sun dials, jewellery, mosaics and much more. The concepts of quality control, marketing and saleability are all taken into account and the products that are made are sold during open days at the College. Click here to see how the bird boxes were made and then sold.
Work Experience
Most students (depending upon ability level), will at some point take part in work placement opportunities where they will gain real experience of a work environment. Work placements can be on site at Trinity: working in the kitchen, the office, or helping with ground maintenance; and they can be off-site working with one of our employer partners at: Roots to Fruit; Doggy Day Care; Dunton Stables;Cycle Chain;Falcon Lodge; Hall Farm Cattery and several other placements we are currently developing. Students who work off-site are always accompanied by trained Trinity staff. Click here to watch a video of students on work placement.
ASDAN accredited courses
Trinity Specialist College is anASDAN registered centre. ASDAN is a pioneering curriculum development organisation and awarding body, offering programmes and qualifications that explicitly grow skills for learning, skills for employment and skills for life.
We currently run four separate ASDAN accredited courses, to appropriately target and accommodate the wide range of specific ability levels within college.
Towards Independence
Towards Independence provides a framework of activities through which personal, social and independence skills can be developed and accredited for those with severe learning difficulties (SLD) and profound multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).
Personal Progress
The Entry 1 qualifications in Personal Progress are approved qualifications, eligible for use in Foundation Learning provision. They are made up of units which can be broadly divided into the following areas: Literacy/Numeracy/IT; Independent Living Skills; Personal Development; Community Participation; Preparation for Work; Units Particularly Accessible for Learners with PMLD.
Diploma in Life Skills
The Diplomas in Life Skills are QCF qualifications based around the development of personal, social and employability skills. The Entry Level Diplomas in Life Skills sit within Foundation Learning and are aimed at learners working at Entry level 1, 2 or 3. Click here to see a video of the Right Honourable Andrew Mitchell, MP, handing out Diplomas in Life Skills to some of our students during our summer fair.
Employability
The Employability qualifications provide a framework for developing and recognising general employability skills. Employability is usually reserved for those students who have a very real chance of employment and runs from Entry 2 through to level 1.
Sensory and Communication
Because so many of our students are on the autistic spectrum, it is vital that the curriculum acknowledges their sensory awareness and communication needs and ensures that the environment is as autism friendly as possible to minimise sensory overload. Sensory experiences can include massage, aromatherapy, music therapy, tasting, and visual stimulation through the use of lights, interactive whiteboards, tablets and appropriate software. Clickhere to see a video showing some sensory activities.
We have our own on-site Communication Manager who oversees communication sessions and staff training in the use ofWidget symbols,PECS andSign Supported English.
Health and well being
Part of our curriculum also ensures that students are supported in keeping healthy through a good diet and regular exercise. Wyndley Leisure Centre, Monster Mayhem and Newhall Primary School’s heated pool are just a few of the ways we achieve this.
