Valley College

About the students

Valley College is a specialist post-18 provision which caters for young people with severe or moderate learning difficulties. Each learner has an EHC plan. Learners are working between Entry Level and Entry Level 3.  The college serves a range of generic learning difficulties including Global Developmental Delay, Autism, Down Syndrome, Moderate and Specific Learning Difficulties. At this time the college is unable to meet the needs of learners with complex medical and physical disabilites due to the current location and building environment. 

Our vision is to create an educational hub that delivers personalised training and support to help young people with special educational needs to:

• Control their own lives and develop their ambitions
• Become valued employers, employees and members of social groups and communities
• Engage in meaningful work-related learning and develop their enterprise skills
• Get a job and live independently
• Secure the best possible post-school outcomes

Catchment

CATCHMENT - We are a provider located in the Rossendale Borough of East Lancashire accepting learners from the Rossendale, Hyndburn and Blackburn with Darwen local authority areas. We also have a satellite provision for learners at The Oracle, Blackpool, Lancashire.

Curriculum

Pathway to Independence  minimum 1 year - maximum 3 years 

Course Content - Living in my community; Independence in my home; My personal growth; My working life

Functional skills (Communication, Cognition and Information Technology) will be delivered through all elements of the course.

Pathway to Employability minimum 1 year - maximum 3 years 

Course Content - Contributing to my community; My own place; My health; My work skills

Functional skills (Communication, Cognition and Information Technology) will be delivered through all elements of the course

Pathway to Employment

Course Content - Citizenship; Self sufficiency; Staying safe and healthy; Employment skills

Functional skills including accredited English and Maths will be delivered discreetly and generalised across the course.

The Valley College provision and curriculum is designed around the concept of PACE: Preparation for Adulthood, Citizenship and Employment. Its local, small nature allows bespoke solutions, responsive to learner needs, with opportunities to develop sustainable independence and employability.

Specialist facilities

Valley College, Rossendale has a dedicated demountable building comprising of 2 large base rooms, a resource area, a meeting room and office space. In addition, the college has a further base room, a fully equipped independence flat with a through lounge diner, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Learners also have access to a multi-sensory environment, and an on-site cafe open to the public. There is also an on-site Speech Therapist. The college works with a wide range of employers to provide work placement opportunities suited to individual needs.

Valley College @ The Oracle has a dedicated base room and office space and learners have access to a fully functioning accessible gym, café area and dance/theatre space.    The college works with local employers to provide work placement opportunities suited to individual needs.

Other information

OTHER

The College sits under The Sea View Trust which comprises of 3 primary schools and 2 special schools (aged 3 -19 years). The Trust shares skill sets and expertise accross all provisions.  Training and CPD is provided to meet the needs of everyone within the organisation.  The majority of teachers within the trust hold a post graduate degree within an area of specialism.  We have wide community links across the Rossendale Valley who provide support and employment opportunities for our learners.