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Routes to Independence and Employment

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Routes to Independence and Employment Jubilee Artwork
Courses Code
QFESLRIE
Study method
Full Time
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  • Is this course for you?

    This course is for learners that have completed routes to vocational education (RVE) within the CCSL provision, or have completed Entry level 3 qualifications in mainstream classes (gateway) and have been informed they are unable to progress to gateway/level 1 within that course (due to academic ability).

    This course is a preparation for paid employment, apprenticeship or a supported internship.

    If a learner has not been able to get onto their first-choice course due to their maths/English grades not being high enough, please look for the princes trust course as this will be more suitable.

  • Required qualifications

    Learners are required to have Entry level 2 or above in maths and English to complete this qualification, as well as the desire to increase their independence (travel training, money management etc).

  • What skills will I develop?

    Learners become equipped with the skills they need to be well prepared for their next steps.

    Opportunities include travel training with 30 hours work experience (individualised to the learners aspiration), help to build/write a CV, learning where to look for and how to find the job of their choice, how to apply for a job and how to dress for and behave at an interview.

    Learners will also work on ‘soft skills’ to help them develop their independence. Such as cooking, home management (cleaning, tidying & organising) money management, personal hygiene, staying safe (community & online), healthy relationships and more.

    We work with outside agencies to help learners with that ‘all important next step’ giving them the chance to explore the opportunities that are available when they leave college. Partners we have worked with include New life, Mencap, National Citizenship Service, NU Futures and the local Job Centre.

    We also invite guest speakers to come in to provide valuable insights to our learners. In 2018, zoo staff, Liberty Staffordshire and a host of companies attended the volunteers fair to talk about what they can offer regarding work experience, travel training and CV building.

  • Careers

    Within this course, the focus is preparing/developing the skills of the learners to give them the best opportunity to gain paid employment and become more independent.

    By this point in the learner’s college journey, they should have identified a realistic and achievable aspiration for employment and be looking for opportunities for work experience in this area independently. The college is working with Mencap this year to give learners the best opportunity to work with disability confident companies in areas they are interested in.

    College information and guidance (IAG) will also be involved with the learners from the middle of the year onwards, working with them to investigate employment opportunities within their desired industry.

    Upon completion of this course the learners should be looking to leave college to gain paid employment, or partake in a college apprenticeship or supported Internship (please note, supported internships are only available to those learners who have an active EHCP)

  • Work experience

    During travel training learners are encouraged to seek out meaningful work experience (WEX) in the local community. As well as visits to the job centre to find current vacancies. This in addition to learners being encouraged to find their own WEX placement for days they are not attending college. 

    We also have several employer and volunteering fairs throughout the year, as well as companies and organisations visiting to give talks on opportunities within the local area. There is also an annual jobs fair held which learners from RIE are encouraged to attend.  

  • English and maths

    Learner dependant. Any learner with an EHCP must strive to achieve progression in their maths and English up to the age of 25.  

    If a learner is currently working at a functional skill level of entry level 1 to level 1, they will complete their maths and English lessons within their ‘routes to’ group. If they have previously achieved a GCSE grade (or that is their next step) learners will be placed in an appropriate GCSE or functional skills level 2 group to assist and support their continued development in maths and English. 

  • Other important information

    As we make as much of the programme as possible practical and engaging this means there will be a need for learners to purchase ‘kit’ to help them complete their studies. For example, overalls and steel toe-capped boots for animal care and horticulture practical. We would also expect every learner to come prepared for learning. This means having their own stationary provisions. We also ask for a financial contribution from parents/learners towards trips and visits. As we are incorporating travel training into this course learners are encouraged to apply for a disabled persons bus pass with their local authority (if parents are not comfortable with their young person having one of these then the subsidised cost of bus fair will be needed).

    All this information will be given to you upon successful application to the course.

  • Is this course for you?

    This course is for learners that have completed routes to vocational education (RVE) within the CCSL provision, or have completed Entry level 3 qualifications in mainstream classes (gateway) and have been informed they are unable to progress to gateway/level 1 within that course (due to academic ability).

    This course is a preparation for paid employment, apprenticeship or a supported internship.

    If a learner has not been able to get onto their first-choice course due to their maths/English grades not being high enough, please look for the princes trust course as this will be more suitable.

  • Required qualifications

    Learners are required to have Entry level 2 or above in maths and English to complete this qualification, as well as the desire to increase their independence (travel training, money management etc).

  • What skills will I develop?

    Learners become equipped with the skills they need to be well prepared for their next steps.

    Opportunities include travel training with 30 hours work experience (individualised to the learners aspiration), help to build/write a CV, learning where to look for and how to find the job of their choice, how to apply for a job and how to dress for and behave at an interview.

    Learners will also work on ‘soft skills’ to help them develop their independence. Such as cooking, home management (cleaning, tidying & organising) money management, personal hygiene, staying safe (community & online), healthy relationships and more.

    We work with outside agencies to help learners with that ‘all important next step’ giving them the chance to explore the opportunities that are available when they leave college. Partners we have worked with include New life, Mencap, National Citizenship Service, NU Futures and the local Job Centre.

    We also invite guest speakers to come in to provide valuable insights to our learners. In 2018, zoo staff, Liberty Staffordshire and a host of companies attended the volunteers fair to talk about what they can offer regarding work experience, travel training and CV building.

  • Careers

    Within this course, the focus is preparing/developing the skills of the learners to give them the best opportunity to gain paid employment and become more independent.

    By this point in the learner’s college journey, they should have identified a realistic and achievable aspiration for employment and be looking for opportunities for work experience in this area independently. The college is working with Mencap this year to give learners the best opportunity to work with disability confident companies in areas they are interested in.

    College information and guidance (IAG) will also be involved with the learners from the middle of the year onwards, working with them to investigate employment opportunities within their desired industry.

    Upon completion of this course the learners should be looking to leave college to gain paid employment, or partake in a college apprenticeship or supported Internship (please note, supported internships are only available to those learners who have an active EHCP)

  • Work experience

    During travel training learners are encouraged to seek out meaningful work experience (WEX) in the local community. As well as visits to the job centre to find current vacancies. This in addition to learners being encouraged to find their own WEX placement for days they are not attending college. 

    We also have several employer and volunteering fairs throughout the year, as well as companies and organisations visiting to give talks on opportunities within the local area. There is also an annual jobs fair held which learners from RIE are encouraged to attend.  

  • English and maths

    Learner dependant. Any learner with an EHCP must strive to achieve progression in their maths and English up to the age of 25.  

    If a learner is currently working at a functional skill level of entry level 1 to level 1, they will complete their maths and English lessons within their ‘routes to’ group. If they have previously achieved a GCSE grade (or that is their next step) learners will be placed in an appropriate GCSE or functional skills level 2 group to assist and support their continued development in maths and English. 

  • Other important information

    As we make as much of the programme as possible practical and engaging this means there will be a need for learners to purchase ‘kit’ to help them complete their studies. For example, overalls and steel toe-capped boots for animal care and horticulture practical. We would also expect every learner to come prepared for learning. This means having their own stationary provisions. We also ask for a financial contribution from parents/learners towards trips and visits. As we are incorporating travel training into this course learners are encouraged to apply for a disabled persons bus pass with their local authority (if parents are not comfortable with their young person having one of these then the subsidised cost of bus fair will be needed).

    All this information will be given to you upon successful application to the course.

Apply for a course

  • Routes to Independence & Employment

    Lichfield College

    Start Date: September

    Code: QLFESLRIE

    Full Time: 35 Weeks

    Day(s): Usually 3-4 days per week

  • Routes to Independence & Employment

    Rodbaston College

    Start Date: September

    Code: QRFESLRIE

    Full Time: 36 Weeks

    Day(s): Usually 3-4 days per week