At Newfriars College we prepare young people with learning difficulties and disabilities for adulthood. Our learners have a wide range of learning and physical disabilities requiring an individual programme of study to prepare them for their best possible adult future. We work alongside our learners to support them to prepare for their next steps towards a meaningful adult life.

Everything we do is about our learners. Our young people benefit from a personalised, broad and balanced curriculum, with meaningful learning opportunities that focus on preparation for adulthood and progress towards achieving individual EHCP outcomes. Our curriculum embeds skills to support Employability and Independence; supports our learners to develop core literacy and numeracy skills for adult life; has an explicit focus on Communication skills, Confidence and Wellbeing; embeds therapeutic input and support; embeds Engagement with Community, supports the development of Friendships and champions Good Health.

We start with the ‘end in sight’ – the aspirations and potential of each of our learners. This is core to the learner’s programme, identified on their Personal Profiles and agreed with the learner and/or parents and carers.

We recognise that our learners are unique and individual. We are here to work with each of the young people who come to the College to empower them to become more independent and confident and to prepare them for their future – be that moving on to employment, further education, adult day or residential services or supported living – through the provision of a personalised, sequential curriculum pathway with a clear focus on the outcomes identified in the learner’s Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

‘The learner is at the core of everything we do…’

Like a jigsaw that builds into a single, connected picture,
the curriculum at Newfriars College is constructed from a series of content blocks that build into a coherent, personalised offer for each learner.

Newfriars College offers programmes across three College Pathways:

• Vocational Pathway including the College Supported Internship offer
• Independent Living Pathway
• Supported Living Pathway

Curriculum Design

We firmly believe that personalisation is key to our curriculum success. We focus on Knowledge, Skills, Personality and the future Aspirations for all our learners and their families. Our curriculum is designed to empower learners to succeed in their learning, personal growth and future aspirations, guiding them as they transition into adulthood.

Curriculum Intent

Our Curriculum overview is a little different in each pathway, but our aim is to personalise our offer for each individual to prepare for life after Newfriars College.

Through our curriculum design and sequencing we enable…

  Paid employment

  Supported Employment

  Access to Support Services

  Social Care

   Good Health and Wellbeing

  Higher and Further Education

Community Participation and Inclusion

  Independence

  Supported Living

Programmes of Study

All learners must have an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) on entry. Following the application process and an initial assessment, the young person is profiled to their individual study programmes and pathways. Learners can access Lower College (5 Days per week) for two years and Upper College (3 days per week) for two years if they are continuing to show incremental progression, good attendance and behaviour. This is often subject to a panel process and agreed by your local authority.