THE CORE OFFER

Oakwood Specialist College teach young people between the ages of 16 – 25 with an EHCP, who have a range of special educational needs and learning difficulties or disabilities, particularly those associated with developmental delay and difficulties in the areas of communication, behaviour and emotional regulation.

Learners may have an identified condition such as Asperger’s Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attachment Disorder or a complex profile with conditions that co-exist with one or more special educational need or mental health difficulties.

At Oakwood we provide a specialist learning environment where learners can experience positive learning opportunities that will enable them to develop their full potential socially, emotionally, academically and physically. Our learners study a range of exciting learning programmes whilst also developing their feelings of self -worth, building positive relationships and developing their life and social skills in order that they will become happy, confident and valued members of society.

What do we offer:

We are a specialist provision and as such we create bespoke packages for individual learners with a range of special education needs and disabilities.
We provide a therapeutically informed curriculum and have access to an in house therapy team including speech and language therapy and psychological services.
We use restorative approaches in order to help learners understand their place in the world and help them to develop the skills and mental agility they need in order be forge positive relationships, cope with conflict and rebuild friendships if problems arise.
Learners take part in small group teaching with a maximum of 5 learners per class with LSA support.
Learners access 1:1 and small group intervention work and transitional support to help them to grow and develop.
Learner progress is reviewed systematically and regularly, and parents and carers are provide with regular report and invited to attend meetings to agree targets and discuss progress.
Learners take part in weekly enrichment and Self Esteem building activities such as Duke of Edinburgh, drama, art and physical wellbeing.
For those learners that would benefit from examinations and accreditation we offer AQA units, Functional Skills and other employability related qualifications.

REFERRALS & ADMISSIONS

WELCOME

GALLERY

ETHOS & VALUES

As Principal of Oakwood Specialist College, I am delighted to welcome you in finding out more about this very special place. Oakwood is a Specialist College where young people achieve amazing things, supported by a team of dedicated, caring and committed staff.

We celebrate the diversity of every individual in our college community and work hard to ensure that learners enjoy a blend of happy, creative

and positive learning opportunities and achieve stretching targets that enable them to progress on to their next steps after College.

Preparing for the next steps is really what college life is all about, and our varied curriculum and fantastic enrichment opportunities are designed to ensure that everyone realises their potential. We are proud of our excellent opportunities for work experience which are a key feature of study programmes, and of the progress our learners make through the Duke of Edinburgh awards scheme – all firmly focused on personal development and empowerment.

I am particularly proud of our therapeutically informed approach to learning, using strategies across the college, complemented by specialist input from our excellent multi-disciplinary team including Speech and Language Therapy and Counselling. You cannot fail to feel the energy, positivity and warmth when you arrive at Oakwood so I would encourage you to come and visit us, and I hope that you choose to make our college, your college.

Esther Williams,

College Principal

Honesty

“Mutual honesty is the cornerstone of any relationship we build with the people we work with”

Empathy

“We work to understand and empathise with all the individuals we care for – it is important we show empathy and not sympathy”

Aspiration

“We work to assist all individuals aspire to achieve their goals and outcomes”

Respect

“We treat others in the same way we wish to be treated and to build shared respect”

Teamwork

“We strive to provide consistency in our approach through effective teamwork and to bring the best out of each other”

Our values are part of our DNA. They were shaped by our employees. They help guide the way we support the individuals we care for, how we work with our customers and with each other.

Through honesty, empathy, aspiration, respect and teamwork, we strive to promote a culture where ideas can blossom, every individual can flourish and outcomes for all can be met.

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HONESTY

EMPATHY

ASPIRATION

RESPECT

TEAMWORK

WELCOME

GALLERY

ETHOS
& VALUES

THE
CORE
OFFER

REFERRALS
AND
ADMISSIONS

GET IN TOUCH

DAWLISH VIDEO TOUR

TORPOINT VIDEO TOUR

FUNDING PANEL

Your SEND Casework Officer will collect additional information/consult with local providers and take your application to a funding panel for a decision. Once the EHCP is finalised naming the onward school/college, applicants/parents will have the opportunity to appeal this decision where necessary.

We take applications at all points of the year.

FUNDING

You can pursue Local Authority funding to attend Oakwood or may opt to fund privately. If pursuing Local Authority funding, the assessment report will be sent to your SEND Casework Officer with fee details and confirmation of the placement offer.

THE ASSESSMENT REPORT

We produce an assessment report which we will send to you that outlines how we could meet your needs at the college and identifies any other information we might need.

OFFERING A PLACE AT OAKWOOD

The Admissions & Assessment Panel meet during the week following assessment to determine if Oakwood can meet your needs and offer a suitable placement. We let you know as quickly as we can and always within 2 weeks of your visit or assessment.

PRE PLACEMENT ASSESSMENT

We will, at this stage, come and visit you in your current school or college or we may ask you to come to the college so that we can meet you here depending on what is best for you. We will ask questions and spend some time with you so that we can better understand how you work and what kinds of support you might need.

MAKE AN APPLICATION

Should you make the decision that Oakwood is the right learning environment, you would then need to apply to the College by completing an application form and providing supporting documentation.

The admissions and assessment team will then review your application and invite you to attend a pre placement assessment.

COME AND VISIT

Learners and their families and carers are encouraged to come and visit us at Oakwood at any point during their secondary education, or if considering a move during post 16, to get a feel for what we have to offer. Our admissions team are always on hand in to answer any questions you may have and to talk honestly and openly about the colleges suitability.