Who is Springboard for?

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2 What is Springboard? Who is Springboard for? Springboard was formerly known as StopGap and is now run by North Hertfordshire College in self-contained teaching centres in Watford and Stevenage Springboard is a full-time personalised learning programme which provides students with the support, knowledge, skills and confidence to become more independent, make informed decisions and ultimately to progress into work. What does Springboard provide? Specialist teachers, learning support staff and therapists Extensive individual key worker sessions Support with social and communication difficulties Liaison with specialist support agencies Parental liaison and support group Effective transition arrangements prior to and on leaving the programme Small teaching groups Personal and Social Development Skills for Independent Living Employability skills Work experience Citizenship Enrichment Qualifications including Functional Skills in English, Maths and ICT Career and progression planning Springboard is for young people aged who require additional specialist support before progressing to college or employment. Many of our students have a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and sometimes emotional, behavioural and mental health needs that require specialist and bespoke support before they can move on with their lives. Our students may also have low confidence and selfesteem and experience social anxiety or may have missed some education and underachieved at school. Some of our students have a learning difficulty in one area but high ability in others and they are supported to realise their full potential. Students need to meet the assessment criteria in order to access the provision. 2 3

3 Personal & Social Development Skills for Independent Living An important part of the course is to help you improve your self-confidence and feel more comfortable with other people. You will also learn to work successfully in a team and recognise and develop positive relationships. You will study the following topics: Interpersonal Communication Skills Understanding relationships Teamwork Skills Healthy Lifestyles Developing positive relationships A great experience with good friends We aim to prepare you for life as an independent young adult. First you need to understand any risks to your health and safety and then manage these risks correctly with practice and support. You will learn how to make positive and informed choices about all aspects of your life. In this part of the course you will learn about: Understanding & managing risk Travelling on public transport independently Money management First Aid Springboard has been a big help in my life and has helped me to progress 4 5

4 Qualifications Employability You will study for a range of OCN qualifications at Level 1 or Level 2, which are equivalent to GCSEs. You will also have the chance to improve your Functional Skills in Maths, English and ICT at either Entry Level 3, Level 1 or Level 2. This will help you when you apply for a college course or employment. Qualifications you can achieve: Functional Skills English Functional Skills Maths Functional Skills ICT Award in Employability Award in Personal Wellbeing Springboard made me feel more self-confident Our aim at Springboard is to prepare you for employment which may be part-time while you are studying, or fulltime once you have finished at Springboard. As well as learning how to apply for jobs and behave in the work place you will have the opportunity to do work experience and learn about different types of jobs and careers. In this part of the course you will learn about and practise: Working in a Team Searching for a Job Applying for a job Preparing for an Interview Interview Skills I do feel ready to move on 6 7

5 Dramatherapy at Springboard Art Therapy at Springboard The aim of Dramatherapy is to offer a safe environment for you to develop your communication skills, improve confidence and develop trust in yourself and others. It is also about having fun, sharing and listening to others. It provides a safe space to develop and explore reality based situations or improvisations. Working with different characters from stories and enactments provides an opportunity to experience unfamiliar roles. It is through these experiences that you can begin to explore behavioural and emotional changes. Dramatherapy provides an opportunity for you to discover your identity within a group by giving and receiving feedback and developing the capacity to be with others. Dramatherapy s fun it gets people talking, moving around and getting to know each other Art therapy is designed to help you to understand and work through your emotions with a trained therapist. You do not need to have previous experience or skill in art. The aim is to enable you to change and grow on a personal level through the use of art materials in a safe and facilitating environment. Art therapy differs from other therapies in that it is a three way process between the client, the therapist and the image or object. It therefore offers the opportunity for expression and communication and can be particularly helpful to people who find it hard to express their thoughts and feelings verbally. Art Therapy can be particularly effective for people diagnosed with Aspergers, Autism and ADHD as it is seen as nonconfrontational and requires very little verbal input. It is also a recognised form of psychotherapy for a range of mental health issues. It s good to be with other people who appreciate what I ve been through and be able to talk about it 8 9

6 Citizenship Student Support and Enrichment Part of becoming an adult means you have responsibilities such as understanding the law, knowing about how our government operates and how to vote. You should also contribute to society and in this part of the course you will take part in a range of activities that will help you to become a responsible citizen including working on community and charity projects. You may also visit the law courts and the Houses of Parliament. This part of the course includes: Beliefs and Values Valuing Equality & Diversity Community projects Charity work A good reason to get out of bed At Springboard you will have a key worker during the course. You will meet regularly on an individual basis to discuss your progress and provide any additional support you may need. We can also bring in other professionals to work with you if necessary. If you qualify you may be entitled to financial support and assistance with travel costs. Enrichment As part of the course you will take part in a range of activities including sport and leisure, group trips and meals out which you will plan together including travel arrangements and costing. It s good that I can speak to my key worker about anything and know that it is confidential

7 Progression Planning Case Study As soon as you start at Springboard we will begin looking at your future progression path, whether it s a college course, an apprenticeship or employment. You will benefit from: Personal career planning Portfolio building Interview preparation Support at interview Continuous independent advice and guidance from your Youth Connexions Personal Adviser I work with adults with additional needs and I ve been offered an apprenticeship. Katie I m enjoying my performing arts course Daniel I went on to study music Yosef I ve just completed my first year in 3D animation at University Rufus I progressed on to an art and design course. Ashley Liam has a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome and attended Springboard after leaving school in His aims were to develop his selfconfidence, improve his life skills, increase his independence and also to understand and explore the world around him. I was very quiet at first. I didn t know what to expect and it was all very strange and new, he said, but soon I was travelling on my own and making friends. I enjoyed the course, particularly the activities, especially dramatherapy and keeping my fitness levels up. It was good that we went to different places and were not in the classroom all the time. I also found the First Aid course very useful and I now feel confident that I would be able to help another person. Liam has since moved on to a Level 2 Hospitality & Catering course at college and he has realised how valuable the work he did on interpersonal skills has been. When I m serving customers in our training restaurant I make eye contact and have good listening skills. I even manage to stay focused when it s very busy and noisy Liam feels that Springboard helped him to become more self-confident and able to overcome challenges without asking for help first. He is now better able to manage unexpected situations and stay calm. I m getting on really well and am hoping my patisserie and cake decorating experience will lead to me getting a job next year, either as a professional pastry chef, or perhaps baking and serving customers in a small cafe

8 How to find us Referrals A602 LYTTON WAY BUS STOP STEVENAGE TRAIN STATION A602 LYTTON WAY To A1M > TESCO CAR PARK GORDON CRAIG ARTS AND LEISURE CENTRE SWINGATE Swingate House WESTGATE PARKING P To Watford Junction Station Beechen Grove (M/N) Bus Stop Sutton Car Park Charter Place Shopping Centre Cranbourne House Referrals to Springboard can be made via Youth Connexions, any other agency involved with a young person or directly by parents or carers. Allocation of a place at Springboard is subject to a successful funding application. If you would like to make a referral to Springboard please speak to your Youth Connexions adviser or contact us directly: Transition Link Adviser Tel: [email protected] North Hertfordshire College Monkswood Way, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 1LA Tel: [email protected] Stevenage Centre: Watford Centre: 3rd Floor, Swingate House Stevenage SG1 1AF, Tel: Cranbourne House, 10a Earl Street Watford, WD17 2PD, Tel:

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