Transitions College - Middlesbrough

About the students

Transitions College supports young people aged 16–25 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and require a specialist educational setting.

The majority of our students have a primary need of Communication and Interaction, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We also support young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, particularly those who may have experienced challenges accessing or engaging with education in previous settings.

Our provision is designed for learners who benefit from a calm, nurturing and low-anxiety environment. We take a highly personalised, person-centred approach, recognising that each young person’s journey is unique. Our supportive setting, high staff-to-student ratio, and focus on emotional wellbeing enable students to re-engage with learning, build confidence, and work towards positive outcomes for adulthood.

Catchment

Transitions College primarily recruits learners from across the Tees Valley and surrounding areas. Our current cohort includes students from Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland, and North Yorkshire.

We work closely with local authorities, families and professionals to support placements both within and slightly beyond these areas where appropriate, ensuring that young people can access the specialist provision they need.

Curriculum

Transitions College delivers a personalised Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) curriculum designed to support learners to develop the skills they need for greater independence and positive future outcomes.

Our academic offer includes English and Maths from Entry Level 1 through to Level 2, alongside Employability qualifications from Entry Level 2 to Level 2. This is complemented by a strong focus on developing communication and interaction skills, which underpin all areas of learning.

Students attend a three-day programme that balances education with personal development and wellbeing. As part of this, all learners have access to weekly gym and swimming sessions at no cost, supporting both physical health and confidence.

We provide regular opportunities to build independence through real-life experiences, such as shopping trips, cooking sessions, and community visits. Social development is a key priority, with structured opportunities for students to form friendships and build confidence in group settings.

Our curriculum also includes creative and enterprise-based activities, including art projects that help learners develop practical and transferable skills. In addition, we offer work experience opportunities to support progression into employment and to help students explore their interests and career aspirations.

Specialist facilities

At Transitions College, we focus on creating a calm, low-anxiety environment where young people feel safe and ready to learn. Our setting is designed to be nurturing and supportive, which works particularly well for students with ASD and those who may have struggled in larger or more demanding environments.

We keep our groups small and have a strong staff-to-student ratio, so we can really get to know each learner and adapt support to suit their needs.

Alongside our classroom space, we make good use of the local community. We regularly access shops, cafés and other local facilities to help students build confidence and develop real-life skills.

Students also attend the gym and go swimming each week, which helps with both physical health and wellbeing. In college, we have resources for cooking and independent living skills, as well as materials for creative activities like art and enterprise projects.

Overall, our resources are focused on helping students feel comfortable, build confidence and develop the skills they need for everyday life.

Other information

In addition to our core study programmes, we offer a range of activities and resources that support engagement, wellbeing and personal development.

This includes access to 3D printers and retro gaming arcade machines, which we use to support creativity, problem-solving and social interaction.

We also have a sensory room, providing a calm space for students who may need support with regulation during the day.

Our approach is underpinned by an Interoception Curriculum framework, which helps students develop a better understanding of their own body signals, supporting sensory processing, emotional awareness and self-regulation.