Who do you want to be?
Discover your future with our Springboard programmes
What does Springboard provide?
Springboard is for you if you’re aged 16-24 and have been diagnosed with/have traits of an Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) and associated emotional, behavioural and mental health needs. You may also have low confidence or self-esteem, social anxiety or have underachieved or missed time at school – and you may have a learning difficulty in one area but a high ability in others.
Springboard is a full-time course that will provide you with the support, knowledge, skills and confidence you need to become more independent, make informed decisions and to progress to employment.
You’ll need to meet assessment criteria in order to join Springboard, however, your individual needs will always be considered when making decisions to help you realise your full potential. The course is delivered in self-contained teaching centres in Letchworth and Watford.
- Specialist teachers and learning support staff
- Small teaching groups and regular progress reviews
- Experienced therapists
- Intensive individual mentoring, parental liaison and support group
- Collaboration with specialist agencies
- Effective transition arrangements
We're Outstanding!
We’re thrilled that in November 2017 Ofsted confirmed that courses delivered by North Hertfordshire College (NHC) and Hart Learning and Development (Hart L&D) are Good with Outstanding features.
What’s more, Ofsted confirmed that our Springboard students benefit from Outstanding provision at NHC – meaning a very high proportion of our Springboard students excel and gain highly effective independent living skills. Among the many highlights, the Ofsted report confirmed that:
- Our Springboard course helps students gain independent living skills and prepare them for what they want to do next – whether that’s an apprenticeship, a job or further learning.
- Our Springboard students benefit from well-planned and meaningful work experience.
- Our Springboard course helps our students gain confidence in every day, real-life situations within their local community and in the workplace.
- Our incredible Springboard tutors help our students gain confidence and tailor courses to meet each student’s individual, diverse and often complex need.
Take a tour
We have two teaching centres, one in Letchworth Garden City and a second in Watford. Take a look around these facilities in our 360 degrees tours to see the specially designed spaces which provide a safe environment to study, progress and discover who you want to be.
Take the Letchworth tour
Letchworth: Letchworth Town Hall, Broadway, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, SG6 3BX. Telephone: 01438 728938.
Take the Watford tour
Watford: Unit 8 Wilmington House, Wilmington Close, Watford, WD18 0FQ. Telephone: 01923 630408.
Award winning provider
We have been shortlisted for the prestigious Tes Specialist Provider of the year award 2020. Read more.
For three years running, we have been awarded commended status for the RCU Beacon Award for Support for Students in 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21.
PROSPECTUS
You can download a digital copy of our 2021-22 Springboard prospectus which gives an insight into college life and an overview of the curriculum department. Full details of each course are available above.
Click Here
How To Apply
If you decide you would like to join our Springboard programme, you would usually be referred to us by your school or YC (Youth Connexions). Please call us on 01462 424242 and ask for the Springboard department or email your enquiry to MWindsor@nhc.ac.uk or MKucper@nhc.ac.uk.
Once you’ve been referred to us, you and your parents or carers will be invited to visit our Campus to take a look around and have a chat with us. We’ll always make sure that we place you on an appropriate and relevant course. For that reason, we’ll invite you to join a taster day, where you’ll meet other members of the team and current students.
When we’ve agreed on the best course for you, we’ll work with you, your parents or carers and YC to complete your application form. After you’ve made your application, you may be invited to join additional taster days so that you can get used to coming to College before starting your full-time course in September.
Your referral to Springboard can be made via YC, any other agency involved with you or by your parents or carers. To join Springboard, you’ll need a successful funding application from your local authority.
“I feel I have now gained the confidence and maturity to move on from Springboard to my new course at college. Springboard has been the best thing that has happened to me in the last year.”
Hertfordshire Local Offer
Hertfordshire County Council have put together a local offer containing information and resources for people with special educational needs and disabilities in Hertfordshire. Please click here to find it.
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