Skills for Work

Overview

Details

Course outline

The course is for young people with mild/moderate learning difficulties. As well as weekly classes in Functional Skills Maths, Functional Skills English, ICT, World of Work and Tutorial, you will have an Individual Learning Plan and over the two year course you will participate in (after an induction programme):

· Travel Project
· Catering Enterprise Project
· Food Hygiene Certificate
· Painting and Decorating
· Digital Media
· PSHE
· Woodwork
· Team Sports

In addition you will be able to work with our Supported Employment Coordinator & Job Coach who helps students on Skills for Work access work experience placements. Students are also encouraged to apply for one of the college’s Mini Jobs to learn about the application and recruitment process.

Example timetable:

What have students who have taken this course in the past progressed to?

Some students progress onto our IntoWork programme or onto courses at other colleges, such as retail pathways or Supported Internships.  

How will I learn?

Students will participate in a variety of timetabled lessons during their four days at college. Emphasis is placed on developing literacy and numeracy core skills at the student's own pace. Students will develop work skills through vocational options.

How will I be assessed?

All students will have EHC Plans on which their Individual Learning Plans are based and regularly updated.

Students work towards City and Guilds Awards (Entry 2 onwards) in:
·  Maths Skills
·  English Skills
·  Employability Skills

Which awarding body is the course validation by?

City & Guilds 

If you wish to apply for this course, please e-mail llddapplications@cwc.ac.uk to arrange an appointment.

What qualification do I get on completing this course?

Edexcel Skills for Independence and Work at Entry Level

Is there additional work required by the student?

None

Awarding Body

Entry Requirements

Entrance Requirements: what qualifications or skills do I need to show I have before I can enrol?

You should be aged between16-22 with an Education Health Care Plan. No formal qualifications are needed. You must be able to travel independently (or be ready to take this step), take responsibility for attending your timetabled classes, and be prepared to have a literacy and numeracy assessment so that your learning plan can be tailored to suit your needs as

Support

Free Meals in FE

If you are aged between 16 and 18 on the 31st August 2019 and received free school meals when you were at school, you may be eligible to receive a free meal at College

Eligibility

To be eligible for free meals you must be enrolled on a full time course, funded by the EFA and you or your parents must be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

• Income support
• Income based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support allowance( ESA)
• Support under part IV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child tax credit (provided your parents are not claiming Working tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by HMR&C
• Working tax Credit run-on paid for 4 weeks after a person stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• During the initial roll out of the benefit, Universal Credit

Evidence

• Evidence of family income being within the threshold of £16,190 per annum. This may be evidenced by presentation of a Tax Credit Award Notice or documentation from HMRC showing actual income for tax year 2018-19
• Parent or nominated guardian’s evidence of Child Benefit & DWP Letter confirming receipt of a means tested benefit.

All applicants will be required to provide evidence dated within four months of the application, showing that they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.

Applications for Free meals in F.E.

A student is only eligible to receive a free meal when they, or their parent/ guardian have made a successful application to City of Westminster College.

Exceptional age group for Free Meals in F.E.

Students aged between 19 and 24 on 31st August 2019 who are subject to a Learning Disability Assessment (LDA) or Education Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) are entitled to a free meal if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Getting your meal at College

Students must attend their classes to continue to be eligible for free meals at College.

Students will be allocated £2.50 for each day they are timetabled to be in college. There is no cash alternative. Credits will be loaded onto the Student ID card. Students must have their College ID card to get their meal. Students cannot get a meal with temporary ID cards.

Credits not spent at the end of each day will be withdrawn.

Students are advised to purchase nutritious meals. The credits cannot be spent on items such as: cookies, cakes, fizzy drinks or confectionary.

Further Education Fees

All our Further Education (FE) courses (Entry to Level 3) are free to EU residents who are under 19 years old on the 31st August 2019. For a few courses you may be expected to contribute towards the cost of specialist materials and resources. However, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for financial help from the College’s Learner Support Fund. You should apply for any such financial support as soon as you have been offered a place. If you are aged 19 or over on 31st August 2019 and you are a UK/EU resident you will normally be required to pay a course fee.

How much will my course cost?

The cost of your course will include tuition fees and examination fees, where applicable. Where a course requires additional specialist materials, there may be an additional cost. Some courses are cheaper than others because they are part funded by the government; some of these courses may also attract concessionary fees for some people.

19+ Advanced Learning Loan

If you are aged 19+ or over and studying a Level 3 course, you may be eligible for an Advanced Learning Loan. To be eligible for this loan, you must have been living continuously in the UK for 3 years immediately before the start date of your course. You must also be undertaking a course of study that is at Level 3 or above, e.g. National Diploma/Certificate etc. For more information click here.

Fee remission/concessionary rates

Concessionary rates are now available for learners that meet the following criteria:

• Entry to Level 1 courses may be free for 19-23 year olds who do not already have a full Level 2 or above qualification*
• Entry to Level 1 courses may be free for 24+ year olds who are unemployed or meet low wage criteria
• Full Level 2 courses may be free for 19-23 year olds who do not already have a full Level 2 or above qualification*
• Full Level 2 courses may be free or 24+ year olds who are unemployed or meet low wage criteria
• Full Level 3 courses may be free for 19-23 year olds who do not already have a full L3 or above qualification*. 

For more information on fees and remission click here.

Discretionary Learner Support Fund

If you are on a low income you may be eligible for financial support towards tuition fees from the Discretionary Learner Support Fund. 

For further information click here.

Childcare

Financial support to help with childcare

Care to learn - childcare support for young people aged 16-20

If you are aged under 20 at the beginning of your course, or moving to the 2nd year of a level 3 course, and are caring for your own child you may be entitled to £175.00 maximum per week, per child through Care to Learn. 

Please ensure you register on the Care to Learn website even if you haven’t chosen your childcare provider or the course you want to study.  Once you have registered Care to Learn will confirm financial support in principle.

For further details and help with making an application please visit https://www.gov.uk/care-to-learn or speak to a Student Advisor.

Childcare support for people aged 20+

Financial support towards the cost of nursery, childminder, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs.

If you are aged 20+ when you start a course and need financial support to help with the cost of childcare while you study the college may be able to help.

You will be required to make use of any government NEF or 2+ Funding before requesting any financial support from the college.

It is essential that you speak to a Student Advisor prior to enrolling on a course to discuss your personal circumstances, childcare needs and to find out if there are funds available.

Eligibility for help with childcare costs is based on your personal circumstances.

General eligibility criteria:

• Aged 20 and over
• Considered a home student for fee purposes
• Fully enrolled on a programme of study funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency  or in receipt of a 19+ Advanced Learning Loan
• Discussed and had confirmation of funding for childcare support before enrolling

Financial eligibility:

 You need to have evidence that you meet general discretionary Learner Support Funds or 19+ Advanced Learning Loan bursary fund criteria:

• on a low income / a dependent of someone who is on a low income or in receipt of a means tested benefit e.g. Income Support / Jobseekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, housing benefit etc.

When looking for childcare please be aware:

• all childcare providers must be OFSTED registered
• any 2+ or 3+ government funding must be used by the student. Only additional hours needed for study will be funded by the College.
• childcare will only be paid for days when you are attending College or a mandatory work placement.
• students on full-time courses will be a priority for childcare funding.
• childcare places will be subject to a contract between College/student/nursery.
• childcare payments are made subject to students reaching 85% attendance on a monthly basis.

All childcare applicants approved for funding will be required to sign our Terms & Conditions and MUST inform the College immediately should they stop attending lessons for any reason.

Email learner.services@cwc.ac.uk to put your name on the childcare waiting list.  You MUST speak to a member of the Student Advice or Learner Services team before you enrol on a course.

Financial Support for 16-18 Year-olds and Continuing Learners aged 19

The Education Funding Authority has allocated money to colleges to support students who are on low incomes or the dependent of parents on a low income, and need support towards their course-related costs or essential living costs or are facing financial difficulty.

For further information click here.

For further information on financial support for Looked after Children, Care Leavers and estranged young people, click here.