Our FLEX Department is for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or High Needs.
Our goal is to help students in life by preparing them for employment, adulthood and personal independence. Our department offers a range of tailored support ensuring that the unique needs of each person we work with are met.
You can choose from one of our three project-led pathways depending on your personal aims and ambitions; Horizons, Pre-internships or Supported Internships, each pathway is intended to help you towards one of two key goals – adulthood and independence or employment. We’ll also help you with your English, maths and IT skills. Students learn in small groups and are taught by specialist staff on our project-based curriculum.
We work closely with the other Colleges in our Group to provide access to as many experiences as possible, including theatre and drama productions at Rotherham College and experience in Animal Care, Horticulture and use of the forest school at Dearne Valley College, so whichever one of our Colleges you’re based at, you’ll have the opportunity to meet people from other areas and enjoy new experiences.
We have strong partnerships with local businesses and organisations and work with them to get involved in community projects. You’ll have the chance to showcase your skills in competitions such as Sewhat and inter-college competitions. You’ll also have the chance to take part in a wide range of health and wellbeing activities, from fitness classes to music and art therapy sessions.
If your chosen course is delivered at another of our campuses, we have a student bus service available to make travelling easier.
Pre-internships are designed to introduce students with SEND and High Needs to working life and are offered in a range of different sectors including Construction, Business Administration, Health and Beauty and Motor Vehicle. The aim is to support you to develop the confidence and knowledge, skills and behaviours to become employable in your chosen sector. On a pre-internship you will attend College for two days (10 hours) and work placement for one day (5 hours) each week. You will study; Employability Skills, Personal Development and Independence, English, Maths and IT.
A Supported Internship is a study programme aimed at giving young people (aged 16-24) with an Education, Health and Care Plan experience in the workplace within a supported environment. It is a platform for you to further develop your skills and experience in a structured way. You will take part in the programme with one of our partner employers and spend at least two days (10 hours) per week working in different areas to gain valuable experience with the support of an on-site Job Coach. You will spend one day (5 hours) at College each week. You will study; Employability Skills, Personal Development and Independence, English, Maths and IT. This course has an emphasis on being out in the workplace developing valuable employability skills, you will spend the majority of your time with an employer.
On this course you will have the opportunity to try taster sessions in different vocational areas, giving you the chance to get a feel for the sectors that you are most interested in. You will develop your employability and personal and social development skills. A focus is placed on building confidence and communication skills to aid your mental health. On this pathway you will attend College 15 hours per week, typically over three days. You will study; Employability Skills, Personal and Social Development Skills, Independence Skills, Communication, Study Skills, Vocational Specific Units/Skills and English, Maths and IT.
