welcome TO OAKWOOD SPECIALIST COLLEGE
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
DELIVERING OUR VALUES
At Oakwood we provide a rich curriculum that is focused on preparing our learners for adulthood right from the start. We work with learners, their families and other professionals to understand each young person’s aspirations and use this information to design individualised learning programmes that help them to build the skills, knowledge and behaviours that they need to achieve their goals.
We offer study programmes that are built around the targets that are set within each learners, Education, Health and Care Plans, and also provide opportunities for them to:
- develop learners skills in maths and English
- complete a personal growth programme that includes relationships and sex education
- enjoy enrichment opportunities and take part in health and well-being activities
- develop our learner’s work skills and take part in work experience.
Our aim is to support learners to progress in to living with greater independence, moving in to paid or unpaid work, or moving on to further education such as in a general further education College.
Each learner that comes to Oakwood is different, and so is their journey. We recognise and celebrate this by ensuring that each study programmes is individualised and supports learners to reach their individual goals.
REFERRALS & ADMISSIONS
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 to answer any questions you may have and to talk honestly and openly about the college's suitability.
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.
The Admissions & Assessment Panel meet during the week following assessment to determine if Oakwood College can meet your needs and offer a suitable placement. We aim to let you know as quickly as we can and will always provide you with an update within 2 weeks of your visit or assessment.
You can pursue Local Authority funding to attend Oakwood College or you may choose to fund privately. If pursuing Local Authority funding, the assessment report will be sent to your SEND Casework Officer with the associated fee details and confirmation of the placement offer.
Your SEND Casework Officer will collect additional information/consult with local providers and take your application to a funding panel for a decision. The placement at Oakwood College is only agreed once the EHCP is finalised naming Oakwood College as the onward school/college.
THE CORE OFFER
Oakwood Specialist College is for people between the ages of 16 – 25 with an EHCP, who have a range of special educational needs and disabilities, particularly those with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) and difficulties in the areas of communication and emotional regulation.
Learners may have an identified condition such as Asperger’s Syndrome, Autistic Spectrum Conditions (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 College we provide a specialist learning environment where learners can experience positive learning opportunities that will enable them to develop their full social, emotional, academic and physical potential. 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 we offer:
- We are a specialist provision and as such we create bespoke learning programmes 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 to forge positive relationships, cope with conflict and rebuild friendships if problems arise.
- Learners take part in small group teaching 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 provided with regular reports 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 recognised qualifications in Functional Skills and other employability related qualifications.
