Student life
Preparing for life
Developing life skills and learning to live independently
Academic studies are just part of what we offer. Former students tell us that learning to be independent is one of the hardest challenges they face – and that we provided the help they needed. We promote confidence through leisure activities, travel training and communication. We help students to learn life skills – where appropriate, cooking and cleaning for themselves and learning how to manage money.
All students participate in social skills development including activities and clubs on and off campus, such as the disco, karaoke, a youth club and drama productions. There are also visits to sporting events, restaurants and regular shopping trips.
Student life
Each student has their own room or area in a shared house with a maximum of nine other students of similar age or ability. The houses are managed to reflect the level of learners’ independence, training and progression.
Students are encouraged to contribute to the running of the college. A student council meets regularly to suggest improvements to courses and facilities and a student Outreach Group
, the members of which talk to companies, community organisations and schools about the impact of their epilepsy.
Individual tutorial, therapy and psychology sessions are provided for all students.
Activities
There is always a lot going on. Fridays are set aside as an enrichment day. Students choose two different options to undertake for the term from a selection of activities including: swimming, football, art, model making, work with textiles, drama, filmmaking, ICT, hair and beauty, floristry, painting and decorating and drumming. We also run clubs including football, a youth club, a disco and karaoke, as well as working with students to organise Christmas and Summer balls, barbeques, sports events and outings to the theatre, cinema, restaurants and bowling.
Over 75% of students access work experience within departments at Young Epilepsy or at external employers including supermarkets, nature parks, hairdressers, nurseries and riding stables.
Preparing for the future
An important part of life at Young Epilepsy is about preparing for the future. We begin to prepare students for life after college from the time they join us, helping them form realistic aims and liaising with external agencies to achieve them.
To help them plan for the future planning we have:
- a strong partnership with Connexions, the career advisers
- student and parent transition days
- personalised leaver planning
- external support from employment agencies, Care Managers, Social Services, Primary Care Trusts and Transition Support Team Advisors
Whatever their goal, we help students to make the most of adult life.
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