Welcome to Pathways at Loreto

click here for Supported internships update

The Work Experience Quality Standard is a national accreditation which provides external quality assurance for high quality work experience and employability programmes.

For the 3rd year running The Pathways Employability programme was awarded the Gold Standard for outstanding work placements in 2018.

Course details

Education Health and Care Plans

The college is committed to meeting the SEND agenda and works closely with Local Authorities to ensure the needs of young people with Education, Health and Care Plans are met in college. We also work closely with external agencies to meet the needs of young people as appropriate. These include: Connexions, Visual Impairment Team, Hearing Impairment Team, Autism and CAMHS.

Do you want to study in state-of-the-art facilities?

Our campus is secure and safe and is shared by learners of all abilities. This inclusive environment means that students with disabilities and / or learning difficulties can develop confidence and independence through their day-to-day college activities.

Loreto is Manchester’s only purpose built sixth form college. Our state-of-the-art facilities are based on a spacious, green and leafy, nine acre university style campus with mature gardens. There is every opportunity to study and learn; there is also plenty of space for students to relax and enjoy life at Loreto.

Do you want to go to a college which will help you to be the best you can and has an outstanding reputation?

Loreto College has the rare distinction of receiving the prestigious “Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education”. The award was presented by Her Majesty the Queen in the presence of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, to the Principal, Ann Clynch, at Buckingham Palace.

Moving onto college is a big step for all young people, particularly for those with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities

The Pathways Deparment has a strong tradition of student success, from students moving onto higher level courses, voluntary work, independent travelling and supported employment. Theprogramme weoffer gives students a flexible programme of study that enhances the learner’s experience and provides an excellent route to develop in preparation for working life, independent living or higher level courses. The students follow a full time 2-year course which and incorporates accredited and non-accredited lessons delivering fundamental core skills such as independent travel, social independence and employability. The travel training programme, developed by the department, has an outstanding reputation across the regionand most students are independent travellers by the time they complete the course.

Transition from school

At Loreto College, the Pathways department arranges thorough andindividualisedprogrammesto ensure the transition is seamless.

Our Transition Programme Includes:

• Meetings with the learner, parents,carers, school staff and external agencies, to establish a close liaison and a partnership approach
• School or specialist provider observations
• Attending school review meetings and multi-agency meetings
• Planning apersonalisedprogrammewith the learner
• Familiarisationdays and taster sessions
• Collaboration with relevant agencies
• Linkprogrammesas appropriate
• School visits
• Specialist support
• Initial Needs Assessments to gather full information
• Open days for parents and learners to attend

The transition programmeis arranged and agreed on an individual basis with each school, specialist provider or externalorganisation. It is our experience that a well planned transition into college plays a significant role in learners being able to access Loreto College and the Pathways Programme successfully. Similarly, transitionprogrammessupport learners to transition out of College and into the next phase of their development – further training, higher education, supported or paid employment, and independent living.

Why choose our course?

The Pathways department has a strong tradition of student success, from students moving onto supported employment and higher level courses to becoming independent travellers. We have a 100% success rate.

The course is 5 days a week from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. We teach in small groups, to ensure that our teachers can support the individual needs of each student. All lessons have Educations Support Assistants present to support students.

The department has been refurbished with smart boards in every classroom, a sensory room for students to have some space to relax or reflect and Ipads for students to use in lessons. Following a 6 week extensive initial assessment period, individual targets are set for each learner, recorded on their individual learning plan and worked towards across all areas of the curriculum.

All learners will have a person centred individual learning plan and progress is ongoing with a formal review on a termly basis.

• We support all our students to improve their numeracy and literacy, both through discrete sessions and by embedding numeracy and literacy in all lessons throughout the curriculum.
• We support students who want to do Functional Skills in numeracy and literacy where appropriate.
• We support all of our students who want and are able to access work placements with local employers.
• Our teachers and Education Support Assistants (ESA’s) possess a wealth of expertise and experience.
• We regularly review students’ progress throughout their time on programme, enabling us to continuously personalise and improve each student’s experience.
• We run a hugely successful travel training scheme, to help students who need it to build their confidence and independence in travelling to and from college or a work experience placement.

The common focus in the Pathways Department is to help you become more confident, independent and able to progress onto higher level programmes or into work.

High emphasis is placed on preparing students for life after College, and travel training is therefore a top priority for students on the programme. We give students the best chance to progress on to further education, employment, voluntary work and to a range of supported and independent living arrangement. We enable students to

• Build on existing skills and knowledge, and represent progression (lateral or vertical) from their assessed starting point
• Stretch, challenge and support students to progress towards their intended outcomes
• Include relevant aspects of numeracy and literacy
• The opportunity for learners to gain accreditation in units relevant for helping you to progress in further education or employment
• Include work experience to support the development of employability skills and create potential employment options.
• Enable students to develop the skills, attitudes and confidence that support progression.

1:1 Mentoring

In addition to a fully experienced team of Education support assistants, the department has a full time Learning mentor. The Learning mentor works alongside our team, parents and outside agencies offering a collaborative, student centred approach to students in the department.

• Arrange and develop 1:1 weekly mentoring appointments and providesupport for students.
• Develop strategies to help learners overcome any personal challenges that they may face.
• Assist with the development and implementation of IEPs.
• Support learners consistently whilst recognising and responding to their individual needs.
• Encourage learners to interact and work co-operatively with others and engage all learners in activities.
• Promote independence and employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement or self-reliance.
• Provide feedback to learners in relation to progress and achievement
• Challenge and motivate students, promote and reinforce self-esteem.
• Provide feedback to students in relation to progress, achievement, behaviour, attendance etc.

What is the programme of study?

Theprogramme weoffer learners is a full time, flexible curriculum that enhances the learner’s experience and provides an excellent route to develop skills in preparation for working life, independent living or higher level courses.

The programme of study is designed to be a route for students to learn, develop and prepare themselves for working life, independent living or higher level courses.All learners’ timetables are personalised to meet individual needs, including a range of vocational options, personal and social development, employability skills, work experience and independent living.

You will have a flexible curriculum that enhances your experience and provides an excellent route to develop skills in preparation for working life, independent living or higher level courses.

Your timetable is personalised to meet your individual needs, including a range of vocational options, personal and social development, employability skills, work experience, independent living and numeracy and literacy.

College Entry requirements

· Working at P-level 8 – Entry Level 1

· Aspiration to becoming independent

· A full commitment to take part in Travel Training to become an independent traveller.

· Education, Health Care (EHC) plan

ASDAN Diploma in Life Skills

In your programme of studysome of the work you cover will feed intogain an accredited qualification.

• Employment and supported employment
• Your rights and responsibilities e.g. direct payments, housing and benefits
• Employability
• Preparing for working life

Learners will have the opportunity to improve their

• Numeracy
• Literacy
• ICT
• Functional Skills where appropriate

Non-accredited lessons to develop your independence

Travel training-To help you become independent.

Using different forms of transport to access work placements or to visit areas around Manchester and your local area.

Daily Living Skills-Learners will plan, cook and make a meal.

Other topics may include healthy eating, personal presentation, health and safety and looking after your home.

Community Participation –

Learners will also explore and access their local community and leisure activities using different forms of transport

Arts and Drama

Employability Programme – Preparation for Work and Life

Employers want to see young people coming into the labour market with good communication skills, team working and problem solving skills, business and customer awareness and an enterprising attitude. They place ‘enormous value’ on employability skills; we strive to embed all these skills throughout the programme of study.

The employability programme is embedded in the curriculum and gives learners with complex LDD every opportunity to achieve their full potential. We recognise that enabling effective communication is extremely important and we are committed to ensuring that learners are at the centre of what we do.The programme helps to increase confidence and enables students to gain employability skills. As part of the course you will attend work placements in a range of different companies where you will be supported by an ESA from the college.

Employability Skills-what you need to know

• How to look for a job using the internet
• CV
• Covering Letters
• How to fill an application form in
• Accepting an interview
• Telephone interview
• You will learn how to present yourself at interview
• Practise interview techniques with real employers from local businesses

The department works in partnership with the following employers to provide 6-10 week blocks of work placements

• Manchester University-office and administration
• Manchester Council- Hulme library
• Trafford Council
• GLL sports-Manchester Leisure Centres
• Manchester Metropolitan University-Speech and Language resource library
• Supported Employment Agencies
• Kath Lock Café -Catering
• The Edge Theatre & Arts Centre-catering

Volunteering Programme

Students have the opportunity throughout the year to volunteer and be team leaders at events to improve skills in team work, communication, following instructions and planning events.

Last year, students had the opportunity to volunteer for the WorldTaekwondo Championships and beteam leaders for Sainsbury’s School Games 2015.

Sports programme

The department runs an exciting Sports and Leisure Programme delivered by a fully qualified sports coach. Students are timetable for sport and attend Moss-side Leisure Centre where they have the opportunity to use the gym and play team sports.

The department has an enthusiastic football team where students are encouraged to participate in competitive football at a challenging, but appropriate level. The team trains twice a week and competes in The North West Pan Ability Football League as well as other tournaments. The football team had the opportunity to take part in theFootball Futures Scheme designed for students who may be interested in voluntary work in football.

College Enterprises:

Green Fingers Enterprise

Working in the poly tunnel you will produce a range of different plants and herbs for your enterprise project, which can be sold in college throughout the year. You will recognise, use and care for tools used in horticulture.Working as part of a group you will learn effective skills, qualities and attitudes for both environmental awareness and work. You will also take part in horticultural planting projects in the local community and projects in the college grounds.

Card and Craft Enterprise

You will produce a range of quality craft items and cards for special occasions during your enterprise project. These can then be sold in college throughout the year and at the Christmas fayre. In addition to developing practical skills and gaining a sense of achievement by producing quality craft items, you will develop a range of other skills including: working together; following instructions; using tools and equipment safely; making independent decisions; creativity; self-expression.

Cafe Enterprise

The cafe was set up by students in the department and you will have the opportunity to produce a range of different soups and sandwiches for the enterprise project, which will then be sold to college staff in the cafe.You will set up the cafe for service and market the business through emails and the college internet. This will help to improve your employability skills.

Valet and car wash

You will produce business flyers and email staff to ask if they would like their car washed and valeted –you will learn how to use a jet spray for the outside and hoover and polish the inside. You will work in a team and improve your employability skills in communication and following instructions.

Pathways Laundry Enterprise

You will learn how to process orders from different college departments who require their sports kit or science lab coats washing and ironing. You will produce invoices to charge the departments and learn how to use various pieces of industrial equipment in the enterprise.

Radio station

You will have the opportunity to work in a team to create radio programmes for broadcast on the college radio station .You will have the opportunity to use equipment and set up play lists for the out of college activities e.g the Christmas party .

Office administration

You will have the opportunity to work with the office to prepare materials for open and taster days

College Library

You will have the opportunity to work in the college library

Transition from college moving forward

1-1 career appointments are available for all students prior to their transition review. The independent career adviser offers support and advice for students in what they would like to do in the future

Student person centred transitions are held in the autumn term to ensure students have the opportunity to visit or explore opportunities available to them. Parents/carers and outside agencies are invited to the reviews at Loreto College. The transition reviews provide students with the opportunity to discuss what they would like to do in the future when they leave Loreto College. Once a student has decided what they would like to do, a link is set up and Education Support Assistants support the student on the link and all relevant paper work is shared.

The department has strong transition links with:

• STEPS- Steps To Employment and Progression’
• Connexions
• Pure innovation
• Manchester/Trafford/ Tameside/Supported internship
• Manchester College
• Tameside College
• Trafford College

Parents and students conference-Students and parents are invited to a transition conference to discuss with the above providers what is available when they leave college

What do I need to do next

How to apply

1. Speak to your teacher or Connexions Advisor.

2. They will help you to contact the college and decide which course suits you best.

3. Your Connexions Advisor or teacher will help you to fill in an application form. They will also collect information to support your application and send it to college.

4. Connexions and your school can arrange for you to visit college and meet the teachers. You can have a look around, find out more about the course and maybe try some activities.

5. If the course is suitable, you can come for a visit with your teacher and parents.

6. Apply by the college deadline

What else do I need to do?

The following is required before beginning a course:

• A current free bus pass – all courses involve travelling into the community and public transport is used
• Benefits information may be required at enrolment for bursary fund and free dinners.

Mobility

Loreto offers comprehensive provision of mobility equipment and facilities that are available to cater for a wide variety of students’ needs.

• All buildings have key card operated lifts allowing quick and efficient access to the whole campus on all floors.
• Disabled toilets can be found on every floor of each of the college buildings alongside dedicated mobility bathrooms with ceiling tracking hoists and Closimat toilets for students that require personal care.
• Sensory room for students who want to take a break from their chair during the day
• Our experienced mobility team are able to offer individual plans to ensure students are appropriately supported.
• All paths around the exterior of the campus are wheelchair friendly with dropped kerbs and our three canteens are equipped with specially designed tables and counters for wheelchair users.
• We provide a range of portable equipment; hoists, adjustable desks and wheelchairs, allowing for a greater level of flexibility.

With this combination of excellent equipment and experienced staff, Loreto College is able to offer the best and most appropriate support to any student with a mobility issue whether temporary or long term.

First Aid Room

The First Aid Room (FAR) initially provides First Aid support to any student or member of staff who requires it. The aim of the FAR is to:

• Highlight any vulnerable students to the correct parties, give advice and refer to counselling or any other external agencies if needed.
• Prompt, administer and record medication given to students with specific medical conditions.
• Assist any students who may need to sign out due to illness or a medical appointment, we follow a strict sign out procedure, informing parents and all relevant teachers, checking attendance and liaising about this if needed.
• Act as a point of contact for any mobility or disability students who may require assistance or personal care.