1. Pre Entry

• Invitation to attend Open Day
• Interview with Director Student Services & Student led tour of site
• Collation of information inc. Pre-entry Assessment of Support Requirements, School Reports, Care Plans, Connexions Advice, Social Services input, ROA etc.
• Offer of two day link visit incorporating a taster session within each subject area
• Screening Score Assessments completed by tutors
• Appropriateness of each individual applicant discussed with input from all staff and a formal decision made on whether a place will be allocated

2. On Entry

• A four week trial agreement between Petty Pool College and the learner (& family / carers where appropriate is signed)
• Learner is given a full two day induction to the provision including a full diagnostic baseline and basic skills assessment and aspects of emergency health and safety
• Learner follows a four week rolling timetable to allow them to experience each subject area fully, prior to selecting a course and being profiled, enabling learners a more informed choice
• During this time, each new starter completes the baseline assessments for each individual course and their suitability for each area is discussed by the team

4. On Exit

• Transition students are identified during the summer term of the academic year prior to exit and informed they will join the Citizenship & Community Studies class (leaver’s group) the following September
• The final academic year spent at Petty Pool is dedicated to exploring the ambitions and options available to each individual, this might include progression to a mainstream college course, supported employment or voluntary work, or in some cases securing a placement within day service provision
• The units studied during this year have been selected to compliment the imminent changes with the learners’ lives and allow tem to procure valuable skills, for example Interview skills and Introduction to skills for work, Housing and Working in the Community
• Should the individual wish to explore the possibility of living more independently in supported housing for example, the College will also support this decision and provide routes to enable this
• Transition is student centred, however, leavers’ review meetings are held to bring all parties involved in the process together in order to formulate an action plan
• The learner is supported by the Curriculum Manager and Director of Student Services to invite one or more of the following to attend: Parents/Carers/Partners/Friends, Social Workers and Connexions Careers Advisors, Advocates, Behavioural Support Team Specialists and any other relevant professionals.
• Throughout the spring and summer terms Petty Pool College supports each individual to attend college and job interviews, visits and taster days and finds and facilitates voluntary placements and work experience sessions
• Students leaving the College are presented with a portfolio to supplement the Record of Achievement they have from school. This Portfolio contains details of all the qualifications they have gained during their time at Petty Pool, as well as any in-house certificates and awards, A reference from the Director of Student Services and from the Curriculum Manager and the CV they have produced during their final year

3. On Course

• Students produce an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) outlining their aims for the year in SMART targets under unit titles. These are used as a starting point for learning and are reviewed termly to monitor progress and performance
• Tutors carry out a detailed assessment of the support requirements of each individual learner, with consultation from mangers, other tutors and learner mentors to establish the correct levels and inform LM timetabling and distribution across college as well as determine /justify funding claimed
• Learners receive the support as determined within this assessment both in-class and socially during their break-times via the LM timetable
• Support needs are also reviewed termly as they can fluctuate rapidly depending on the nature of the individual and changes in their personal circumstances
• LM’s complete an auditable diary of the support they have provided for each session and break – be it for a group or an individual on a 1:1 basis
• Tutors produce highly detailed pen portraits of each tutor group outlining the dynamics of the group and profiling individual learners to assist LM’s working with the class and provide an overview for any Observers of the class
• Any student issues arising are discussed and minuted during weekly staff meetings to enable effective communication and information sharing amongst all staff enabling effective support to be given
• If appropriate, incident reports are completed and kept on file to allow behaviour to be monitored and changes to needs identified / patterns to be easily identified
• Where necessary Petty Pool works in partnership with outside agencies for the benefit of the learner, e.g., the behavioural support teams, community nurses, advocates, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists etc. in line with the Trust’s ethos and holistic approach to education