The upper team is for learners aged 14 to 19, with three classes – C12, C13 and C14, where learners are grouped by their age and needs. One class is for learners who require a high level of support to meet their complex learning, physical, sensory and medical needs. The other two classes are for learners who have severe or moderate learning difficulties combined with ASD or other diagnoses such as Down’s Syndrome.
Each class in the upper team has on average eight learners, a teacher and at least two teaching assistants. There are also personal care assistants and healthcare assistants working across the team. Sometimes a learner may move classes early or during the year to ensure that they are learning in the best environment we can provide.
The learners in these classes access YPA curriculum to meet their individual needs with an emphasis on communication, independence, self-help skills and community-based activities – all designed to prepare our learners for moving on into adult services. All learners access the community through transition visits to Post-18 provision and community-based activities. Many of our Post-16 learners join the Pathfinders programme which includes opportunities to access the local community using public transport and to work at supported work placements such as Recycling Ollerton and Boughton (ROB), Sam’s Workplace and Willow Tree Farm. Learners also access specialist college provision at Portland College and Landmarks College. Learners visit a variety of Day Service provision, including the Adventure Service, APTCOO, Space Inclusive, Mansfield Day Service, Ashfield Day Service, REACH, Five Senses, Pine Bank, Every Sensations and Newark and Sherwood Day Service. We work closely with parents and carers to ensure our learners and their families have an informed choice of future placements to help them have a smooth transition into adulthood.
