• Good staffing ratio, small groups and Learner Support
• Lively curriculum, making excellent use of local facilities and community
• Work placement opportunities and support
• Commercial café run by students
• Horticulture facility with small animal husbandry
• Student create business enterprises for practical work experience

• Small groups
• Qualified staff and LSAs
• Individual assessments
• Accommodation for SLDD students in quiet part of College North Road site
• Lunch time quiet room for SLDD students if they find the college canteen overwhelming
• 'Time Out' room for students with decorations, furniture and equipment designed to meet students individual needs to support focus in sessions
• Twilight provision for SLDD students to take part in adult social life
• Regular reviews and contact with parents, carers and professionals
• Lessons are designed to accommodate learning styles and have differentiated resources
• Students access sessions taught by mainstream specialist tutors (with extra support)
• We employ an Educational Psychologist to support staff and students
• A Speech Therapist attends College on a weekly basis
• Staff support students to find their way around College when required.
• All College staff – including the receptionists, administrators, cleaners, etc, have Equality & Diversity training and all have a friendly, welcoming attitude towards all students.
• The College has Child and Adult Protection policies and procedures in place. Any issues about student safety or vulnerability are dealt with promptly, sensitively and positively.

A leaflet giving full information is available should people with to compliment or complain about College.

All appropriate students have opportunities for work experience, which is supported by our specialist work placement co-ordinators and personal tutors.

• A speech therapist attends College on a weekly basis.
• Staff have regular weekly team meetings to discuss students’ welfare and progress
• Course co-ordinators meet regularly to ensure that best practice and college systems are followed
• Students have weekly group tutorials and 1-1 with personal tutors for support and encouragement.

Within course delivery; social skills and behaviour management are monitored and addressed as appropriate.

Appointments with Counsellors, Social Workers and the College Educational Psychologist are made as and if deemed necessary in conjunction with parents/carers.

1-1 tutorials also help to support students.

A Mental Health Worker is employed to support staff dealing with students with mental health issues.

As part of the weekly timetable; students have enrichment or leisure options and can choose from options including swimming, art, gym and snooker. Course delivery includes helping students to make use of leisure time outside of college. We run a twilight session Youth Club at the local church for Pre-Vocational students and another at College for Pathway students.

There is a fee paying "After College Club" for Pathway students up to 5pm.

Students come from a variety of backgrounds, from those living in supported living accommodation to those residing with parents and are treated on a 1-1 basis according to need.

Personal care and promoting independence are addressed in conjunction with parents and carers to optimise the learning ability and to promote a cohesive approach.

Students use the Canteen for breaks and lunch. Supervision includes Learning Support Assistants in attendance on arrival, at breaks and at lunchtimes. There is a designated table for LSAs.

Some students use bus or train passes and can travel independently. Others have taxi provision or parents or carers who transport to and from college. Where appropriate, students receive travel training from the department’s travel training team.

Public transport is widely used to promote independence when accessing community venues and activities. This includes students who rely on wheelchairs or rolators.

Students arrive and depart from North Road Reception area and are supported by Learning Support Assistants.

The College provides its own bus transport with routes from and to Swanage, Throop, Ferndown and Blandford. This transport may not be suitable for some students.

The college is multi-cultural in approach. Personal faith, beliefs and culture are addressed through the College Diversity Calendar and through tutorial and teaching sessions where appropriate. Students are invited to attend themed days or events throughout the year. Students also have access to the College Chaplain.

• Hoist in disabled toilet
• Assistive Technologies (the College also has a specialist facilitator), eg equipment for visually or hearing impaired students, physical disabilities. For more information, contact Keith Ball.
• Interactive Smart boards
• TV & DVD players
• Nintendo Wii with a variety of games/physical activities
• Height adjustable desks
• Height adjustable cooking equipment
• Minibuses with tailgate for wheelchair access
• Staff created resources, worksheets and activities to support learning
• Computers and the College’s own Virtual Learning Environment
• Specialist software programmes

Some students progress onto other college courses to further their skills and to gain recognised qualifications. Others may engage in paid full or part-time employment or a voluntary work placement in the locality.

Wessex Autistic Society

Travel training – The College Travel Training Co-ordinator works with Poole, Bournemouth and Dorset local authorities and local transport organisations on planning and funding for travel training

Social Services, Dieticians, Occupational Therapy, Healthy living Co-ordinators, Self Advocacy Forums and Speaking up Groups