Our FLEX Department is for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) or High Needs.
Our goal is to help students in life by preparing them for employment, adulthood and personal independence.
Our department offers a range of tailored support ensuring that the unique needs of each person we work with are met.
You can choose from one of our four, project-led pathways depending on your personal aims and ambitions; Independent Living, Horizons, Pre-internships or Supported Internships with each pathway intended to help you towards one of two key goals – adulthood and independence or employment. We’ll also help you with your English, maths and IT skills. Students learn in small groups and are taught by specialist staff on our project-based curriculum.
Throughout their time at College, students will have the chance to try different vocational subjects such as hairdressing, construction and engineering, and get involved in community projects. This provides the learners with exposure to all the fabulous facilities available across our College Group’s sites (Rotherham College, North Notts College and Dearne Valley College).
As well as our vocational facilities, our FLEX department also offers specialist such as: Sensory rooms, sensory gardens, working kitchens and living spaces for practical role play and developing independent life skills.
We have strong partnerships with local businesses and organisations and work with them to get involved in community projects. You’ll also have the chance to take part in a wide range of health and wellbeing activities, from fitness classes to music and art therapy sessions. We’re also looking to start a disability sports league.
This programme is designed to provide an introduction into working life in a range of differing sectors, including; Construction, Business, Hair and Beauty and Motor Vehicle, as well as more generic employability skills designed to build confidence in the workplace. The Pre-internship programme supports learners develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to ultimately become confident enough to be employable in a sector of their choice. The programme will also allow students to become familiar with an employment setting and understand the expectations required to become an active member of the working community.
A supported internship is aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 who have an EHCP, who want to move into employment and need extra support to do so. This programme supports young people with SEND to sustain employment; voluntary or paid, with the appropriate levels of preparation and support. We aim to do so by helping to identify the skills that employers’ value, and helping young people to develop them. We also offer the opportunity for learners to complete a specific short qualification to support progression in their desired job sector, in for example Customer Service, Business Administration, Retail Services, First Aid and Food Hygiene.
This programme is designed to bring together elements of the inward facing aspects of looking after yourself and your home, and the outward facing aspects of living in the community. This programme supports and develops our most vulnerable students to learn and further develop and become as independent as their individual abilities allow. Our students develop skills such as: using public transport, understanding relationships, self-advocacy, personal safety, personal care and hygiene, using domestic appliances, and budgeting. The qualifications and units can be tailored to individuals and can build on previous achievements of awards in specific topics.
This programme supports learners who suffer with low self-esteem, are deemed vulnerable and who may have specific SEMH and/or behavioural needs. Horizons is designed for those learners who are unsure of their career aspirations and who are not fully equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to progress onto a specific career. Through trying 'Taster Sessions', where students get to experience a range of vocational areas and careers, learners build confidence, develop communication skills and develop their mental health and wellbeing.
