Bridge College

About the students

Bridge is a day college where you'll have a bespoke learning programmes designed to meet your needs and aspirations. Multi-disciplinary assessments both on entry and throughout the your journey ensure that you'll follow an educational pathway that promotes learning. We have high expectations and work hard with you, your family and external partners to ensure that you'll have the opportunity for further learning, community inclusion and better life outcomes. We can provide work experience, Supported Internships, volunteering opportunities and enterprise activities as well as a range of experiences to support the development of your independence skills.

We work with:

• Learners with a wide range of physical disabilities
• Learners with autism
• Learners with moderate learning disabilities
• Learners with severe learning disabilities
• Learners with profound and multiple learning difficulties / disabilities
• Learners with epilepsy and/or associated neurological conditions
• Learners with multi-sensory impairment
• Learners with communication difficulties

Catchment

We are a regional provider accepting learners from across the North West area. 

Curriculum

Together we develop learning plans shaped to suit each student’s interests, needs and aspirations. So everyone leaves with the skills and self-confidence for their future.

• We treat everyone as an individual. Create your own learning and support plan based on your aspirations
• Think about what you love to do, then choose from a broad range of vocational subjects to suit your interests
• Celebrate your own version of success, whether that’s communicating with more confidence or working towards an accredited qualification
• Get all the support you need to achieve your ambitions. From state-of-the-art facilities, to specialist communication tools, to a multi-skilled team of nurses, therapists and assistive technologists
• Take part in our work experience and supported internship programmes
• Prepare you for life outside college

We have lots of different subjects on offer to help you develop your skills in practical and realistic ways. These include: Sport, Art, PHSE, ICT, Community Access, Media, Catering, Horticulture, Music and Sensory Experiences.

You’ll also get to develop your work related skills in a way that suits you. Practice following task-based routines and instructions. Learn new work skills by helping us run the Bridge College print shop and café. Or access on-the-job training through internal and external work placements and our supported internship programme.

With our support, you’ll learn new life skills to build your confidence and independence for the future. Go from making simple snacks to cooking delicious meals for family and friends.

Learn how to take care of your wellbeing, from healthy eating and exercise to staying safe online. And understand how to travel in and around your local community. You can also build your confidence when it comes to communication, through things like makaton, symbols and objects of reference.

Specialist facilities

Hydrotherapy pool, sensory immersive environment – light and sound, rebound therapy room, sensory integration room, training catering kitchen - internal cafe – rise and fall learning stations, horticultural studies – accessible greenhouse, raised beds, wildflower gardens, specialist learner pathways and a wide range of assistive technologies.

We also offer a surgery and medical room, spacious highly specialised hygiene rooms throughout, tracking throughout the building, specialist teachers, support workers, paramedics, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational and speech and language therapists, psychologists and assistive technologists. These are all housed in our modern, purpose built college. 

We offer access to the full range of vocational facilities through our partner further education colleges and a wide variety of work experience placements.

Other information

Supported Internships can help you learn the skills you need to progress to a paying job. We partner with many different employers to create a fully supported, hands-on training programme for young people aged 16 to 25. The internships last 12 to 24 months, and are based mainly in the workplace. You can follow accredited units, develop essential literacy and numeracy skills, and build your confidence in the workplace. We match your skills, interests and aspirations to find the right workplace for you. We will ensure that you're supported every step by a personal tutor, a mentor in the workplace and a Job Coach. 

You can also access internal and external work placements, which are designed to help you prepare for the SI or life after college.