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Curriculum

Ambitious College’s mission is to make the ordinary possible for autistic young people. 

We support autistic young people to live the lives they want. To do so, we devise and deliver personalised learning opportunities that help them achieve outcomes set out in their individual Educational, Health and Care (EHC) plan and work towards positive destinations. 

Because our learners’ skill levels vary, we take an individual, person-centred approach to teaching, learning, and assessment. Throughout our entire curriculum we include functional skills such as English, Maths, Communication, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Our curriculum also reflects the four pathways of the Preparing for Adulthood Agenda and every course we offer includes aspects of all of the below on a weekly basis:

  • Employment
  • Independent living
  • Better health
  • Friends, relationships, and community.

 

Developing work skills is a priority for all learners, although the focus will vary according to need and priority. For some it will focus on developing pre-vocational skills related to communication, independence and participation. For others, the aim will be to develop vocational-specific skills and qualifications.

 

functional-skills

 

All learners will have access to work experience in order to increase their self-confidence and ability to thrive in a range of settings. There is a full-time employment specialist on-site who assesses learners employability skills in order to find the best match for each learner. Our community partnerships with Saracens Rugby Club, the London School of Economics, the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum and more ensure we have a good range of work experience placements to draw on.

The curriculum focuses on enabling young people with autism to build relationships and acquire the skills they need to manage their physical and emotional wellbeing. There is a strong overlap between personal development and the development of social and communication skills. Both have a profound impact on an individual’s ability to successfully navigate the world.

The curriculum is designed to prepare learners for life both within and beyond the wider community of the college and to equip them with the essential skills for living which will enable them to remain within their local community. These skills are best developed in natural settings and therefore, much of this curriculum will be delivered within the community.

Young people with autism learn best through practicing skills in real-life contexts. Learning is carefully planned and structured, in order to develop skills and competence and to promote independence. Learners are involved in making choices about what they want to eat, cooking their own food, including shopping for groceries, and keeping their environment clean and tidy.

English and Maths is integrated throughout the curriculum; this will be at an appropriate level for the individual and in most cases will be functional and delivered in realistic and natural settings, with learners acquiring skills through doing, as opposed to a more traditional classroom-based model.

Read our Model of Practice.