Type of service: Further & Higher Education

Website: http://www.portland.ac.uk

The College's educational services can cater for learners with autism from pre-entry up to L3 in a broad range of programmes, which can be both accredited and non-accredited programmes accordingly. All programmes are tailored to meet individual needs and can include vocational tasters/qualifications, functional skills, independent living skills, communication and Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE), with no two programmes being the same. Through a multi-disciplinary approach, their comprehensive assessments ensure that learners have both their aspirations and their needs met.

Learners utilise facilities on a spacious and tranquil campus, which includes a dedicated specialist zone for learners with autism who need a quieter, highly structured and low stimuli environment. Some of the College's learners with autism will utilise the quieter and highly specialised provision for certain aspects of their programme, whilst still following their chosen vocational routes across the main campus, still through a highly structured approach which meets their needs. Other learners will have all of their programme delivered in the specialist provision. Volunteers may be accepted to work with students. The College also offers residential respite services, which are open to others as well as the College's own students.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Adult

Gender: All genders

Specialisms: Has autism-specific elements

Other specialisms: Challenging behaviour, Learning disability

Level: NAS Autism Accreditation - Advanced

Year: 2022