1. Colegau Cymru ALN Conference May 20 2016
Coleg Sir Gar / Carmarthenshire County Council

2. overview Developments at Entry Level Developments across College
Developments in Carmarthenshire
Case study – where it hasn’t worked
Proposed model for Aspergers / Higher Functioning Autism “unit”

3. Entry Level 2011/12 – 64 learners; 12/13 – 76; 14/15 – 84; 15/16 – 90.
Provision:
Step to success = pmld
Intro to college – Pre=Entry / E1
Personal progress – E1
Personal Social Development – E2
Skills for Work – E2
Skills for Independence and Work – E3
Personal and Social Development – E3 / L1

4. Entry cont… New groups:
Steps to success 2nd year – 18 learners – severe autism , mobility issues, not able to read/ write, experiential learning
E3 / L1 – aims to prepare for progression to mainstream – sampling units at L1

5. Case study
Male student autistic WAG agreement to go to residential college
Parents did not feel he as progressing – withdrew him after 3 weeks
Would previously have not been accepted in college due to nature of needs
Complex – required 1:1
Journey – from non-communicative; did not want to be in class; college environment not working for him;
Support and partnership with parents developed into humorous young man using variety of communication devices – speak; flick cards
Achieved up to E2 (PSD)

6. Cross College
Growth in demand for support for learners with ASD; sensory; mental health; physical needs; SpLD…..
2015/16 – 82 LSPs
SpLD 33
ASD 16
Speech and Language 19
Opp Conduct Disorder 2
2015/16
Learning Support Lecturers 129 hrs per week
LSA 574 hrs per week
600+ learners

7. Success in many areas – especially for learners with ASD – Level 2 and 3 IT / Computing; A level; Engineering L3; Art L3
Challenges:
“out of class” 18hr LAP
Supporting complex / personal care issues
transport

8. Case study
M. 19 year old male –attended a special unit attached to mainstream school – autism spectrum and complex
Had wanted to go to a local, private, specialist centre
Family did not want residential
Applied late – Easter – 1 term of transition – visits with school LSA; tasters in class; 1:1 College LSA; visits to school; meetings with course team; meetings school / careers,etc
Achieved GCSEs in school – entry quals for Level 2

9. Case study Started Level 2 IT in September-
Plans / strategies for managing behaviour; 1:1 LSA; safe room; tutors briefed…
Extreme anxiety, harming, disruption, threats to staff….
Lasted 3 weeks before family agreed to withdraw
Referred to multi agency – no one agency taking responsibility
Offered a part-time 1:1 teaching plus support – no funding
Still at home, mental health deteriorating…..

10. Proposed “aspergers unit”
Joint College / County idea – building on work from UPOSS (FE)
Meeting the needs of learners identified n school / specialist units
Achieving academically – level 2 / level 3
High functioning autism needs
Individual learning needs / interests
Unable to sustain a place in a mainstream class

11. The model Up to 5 learners on individual programmes Blended learning
Based on main college campus
Staffing – 1 teacher / manager; 3 – 5 LSA support
Mix of 1:1 delivery; use of Moodle; dipping into classes
Integration on campus; social opportunities

12. Funding?
Costs: Teacher / Mgr £50k; support = £75k; overheads / resources £50k; total = £175k
Per learner £175 / 5 = £35k
Income – LAP per learner - £5k? £9k
Shortfall?