Cambian Pengwern College

About the students

Typical Student Profile

• Age 16 - 25 years
• Mixed Gender
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Moderate to Severe Learning Disabilities
• Complex Needs
• Commuincation Difficulties
• Development Disorders
• Challenging Behaviour
• PMLD
• A broad range of complex needs including medical needs

Catchment

Nationwide

Curriculum

Cambian Pengwern College offers various opportunities for external accreditation through the Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF).

We provide flexible routes to full qualifications and offer units of study from pre-entry to entry level 3, leading to awards, certificates and diplomas.

Our programmes of study allows the student to develop skills in a number of areas; it gives greater choice and more  flexibility allowing it to be bespoke to the individual needs of the student.

Self-esteem is essential to young people progressing into adulthood encouraging a passion for learning and broadening their horizons. By offering the opportunity to undertake nationally recognised vocational qualifications, we help young people gain confidence and to lead socially active and engaged lives.

We also offer options to improve literacy, numeracy and/or communication skills, such as the use of Makaton, communication in print, Grid player and Proloquo2go, with additional opportunities for work experience.

The core curriculum is complemented by a range of enrichment activities that enable students to develop new friendships and interests. They can choose from a variety of activities including:

✓ Arts & crafts

✓ Bowling

✓ Cycling

✓ Dance

✓ Digital Skills

✓ Enterprise

✓ Food and Drink Service

✓ Football

✓ Forest Craft

✓ Grow Your Own

✓ Gym

✓ Home Cooking

✓ Keep Fit

✓ Music

✓ Pony Care

✓ Sewing

✓ Swimming

✓ Hydrotherapy

Work Placements for students at Pengwern College

Every student has the opportunity to undertake internal or external work placements as part of their individualised learning programme.

Work experience opportunities and individual long-term goals are discussed with each learner and work placements arranged to meet their specific needs.

Students attend weekly work experience throughout the academic year; with targets agreed and reviewed regularly during the placement to support progress. Learning focuses on the development of practical and vocational skills that can be implemented in the wider community. Areas of work include but are not limited to animal care, catering, hospitality, beauty and gardening. Such activities and placements have proven very effective in increasing young people’s confidence in life after college.

Specialist facilities

Cambian Pengwern College Environment

Cambian Pengwern College is set in 29 acres of beautiful North Wales countryside near the historic village of Rhuddlan, close to the popular resort towns of Prestatyn and Llandudno. The college benefits from good rail / bus links and road networks.

We understand that residential colleges can never replace home but we make every effort to create a welcoming, family environment where learners feel safe and comfortable.

Our accommodation provides the necessary step between leaving home and community living that most young adults take during their transition to adulthood.

Learners live close to the college, and as their confidence and independence grows they are able to progress through the range of residential settings available at the college. We encourage learners to personalise their bedrooms with posters and photos and take responsibility for keeping their rooms tidy.

Residential students work towards practical living skills, healthy living, personal finance, improving manners and conduct, personal safety awareness, accessing local facilities, effective communication and working as part of a team.

Our facilities include a library, an Independent Living Skills area and a Sensory Room.

Sensory Room

Our sensory room is a therapeutic environment that offers learners a controlled and quiet space away from the bustle of college life: a place where they can fully relax and increase or decrease their sensory
experience as they require.

It is a calming environment which utilises interactive lighting, bubble tubes, soft seating, mirrors, weighted blankets, rollers and balls to develop body awareness and balance. Our multi-disciplinary team use the sensory room to teach learners calming techniques and how to use them in different environments.

Clinical Team

Our health care Clinical Team, Nurse, Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist ,play a key role in making sure learners health needs are supported as well as meeting their therapeutic needs, supporting communication and holistic wellbeing

Students have access to GPs, Dentist and Opticians.

Our Living Well Approach Aims to:

- Promote healthy eating and lifestyles

- Increase health and well-being awareness

Faith and Worship

At Cambian Pengwern College we understand how important it is that learners are supported to participate in worship according to their beliefs. There are a variety of places of worship in the local communities near to the college.

Other information

All students follow an individualised programme of practical life skills development within real–life, supported living and community environments, with the aim of developing independence skills such as personal care, cooking, shopping, cleaning, laundry, travel training and community awareness.

Cambian Pengwern College provides a total communication environment that enables all learners to reach their potential, both in expressing themselves and understanding others. The college creates a supportive and effective communication environment, valuing all means of communication equally.

There is strong emphasis on the use of visual information to promote learner choice, control and autonomy. The provision of accessible information throughout the college, such as pictorial timetables and visual time lines facilitates learners’ independence across the curriculum.