Skills for Independence (SV)

An EHCP is essential to join this course, and you can visit GOV.UK for more details.

There are no formal grade requirements.

Once you apply, we will invite you, the parent or carer, and your young person to a relaxed admission process.

This is a chance to familiarise yourself with the college, the tutors, and the facilities.

During the process, there are no assessments or tests - the admission is relaxed and safe.

The Introduction to Adulthood or Pathway to Independence programmes will be a suitable next step if this course isn't right for them.

These courses are for learners with Profound and Mulltiple Learning Disabilities who need a hyper-supportive, sensory-focused learning approach.

Each module builds confidence and personal skills to help them achieve their EHCP outcomes, with our expert SEND tutors.

• Practical life skills
• Communication development
• Real life and community experiences
• Preparation for adulthood
• Work learning and early employability
• Small group learning

Bath City Centre Campus offers a safe, supportive space for SEND learners.

And this helps them learn and thrive in small, quiet classrooms with minimal distractions.

SEND tutors use breakout spaces to offer reflection time and hyper-personalised one-to-one coaching.

Progress always aligns with their EHCP targets, and we celebrate small milestones at special events during key points of the year.

Tutors observe small units of work – mostly practical, scenario-based tasks – that reflect daily life.

This way, learners begin to prepare supported internships or volunteering roles with confidence.

Skills for Independence is where young ones with learning difficulties begin to feel independent through routine and real-world relevance.

Typically, people who complete this course progress to:

• Future Skills – where learners continue to build independence.
• Future Steps to Work – where learners build employability skills.
• Future Choices – where learners are ready for vocational exploration.
• Alternative personalised programmes.

No additional costs.

This programme is designed to facilitate the development of your independent living skills within your local communities. LILS encourages you to explore and enhance your skills and knowledge in key elements of moving into adulthood including independent living, healthy living, relationships and communities, and employability. LILS is aimed at learners with a learning difficulty/disability who are working at an academic level between Entry 1 and Entry 3. The aim of LILS is to help students to become independent within their local communities, therefore when considering which campus students wish to study at we highly recommend that students consider where they live (e.g. Somer Valley LILS is aimed at students who live in Radstock, Midsomer Norton and the surrounding areas, and City Centre LILS is aimed at students who live in Bath and the surrounding areas). However, we also welcome applications from learners outside of BANES and we consider each application on a case-by-case basis and will ensure that students study at the campus which is absolutely right and appropriate for them and their individual needs.

Most learners study this course for free.

If you need help with funding, travel costs to the college, or free college meals, please email studentfunding@bathcollege.ac.uk for more details.

The Somer Valley Campus in Radstock also offers the following specialist SEND support to remove learning barriers:

• Experienced SEND teaching staff
• Quiet breakout rooms
• Accessible learning materials like visuals, task boards, laptops, and visual aids
• Regular communication and progress updates with you, the parent or carer
• Support to meet individual EHCP goals
• Wellbeing support through the college's SEND or learning support team

If you would like to ask more questions, please email cathryn.giles@bathcollege.ac.uk.