At the start of January, our Supported Studies curriculum switched to online flexible learning, with our team of tutors and Learning Support Assistants working collaboratively in supporting students both with their academic work and their health and wellbeing.
Students have been participating in a range of different interactive learning activities including:
- One-to-one health and wellbeing walks from student’s homes. This opportunity allowed students to physically and verbally connect with one of the Learning Support Assistants at the college.
- Tapping into the interests and expertise of our Learning Support Assistants, a series of weekly virtual clubs were set up and are proving to be very popular with our students. The clubs include dancing, gaming, art, music, reading, quizzes, exercise and so much more.
- Multi-skills Students have been participating in weekly practical projects using either materials and equipment accessible at home or resource packs delivered at their doors. Projects so far have included: build a bird feeder from recycled materials and build a balloon-powered car.
- Practical and sensory activity packs have also been hand-delivered weekly for Aspire/NET students including materials and equipment for art and enterprise activities.
- The EACH (Equine, Animal Care and Horticulture) group have been able to continue attending Church Farm one day each week, to undertake the practical elements of their qualification. Students are thoroughly enjoying being able to access the outside space to connect with the animals.
One Supported Studies Student said: “Online learning has been a great experience for me because it’s not only introduced me to a new way of learning, but it has also been a great and enjoyable opportunity to showcase my IT skills and to help out my peers with any technical problems they may have, to which it’s lead me to be praised as an approachable person.”
Course Team Leader Clare Marvel said:
“Students have embraced online learning with the help of parents and amazing support staff who have encouraged and participated in their young person’s learning. The online cooking activities has also been a fun way to engage students learning from home, with the added bonus of something delicious to eat at the end of the lesson.”
The response we have received has been amazing so far. Here is some of the feedback we received from parents about student’s participation:
“I know it’s difficult but I’m really grateful that all of you are helping and supporting with the online learning. You are all doing a fantastic job.”
“Today was another exciting day! It’s so good to see if he can do these projects at home, it really helps especially in these times where he doesn’t want to go outside.”
“Thank you for a fantastic week online! I’ve sat listening and laughing at the sessions, you all seem to be really enjoying it.”
As the college will be returning to face-to-face learning in the next few weeks, Supported Studies students will continue to incorporate new ways to deliver their curriculum to engage their students and broaden their skills in a new interactive way.
If you know someone that may benefit from our Supported Studies (SEND) programme, click here.
