Start Date
- September 2025, Full Time
Summary
Preparing for Adult Life (PAL) is a specialist college provision offering individual support, flexible timetables and content and runs within inclusive Learning at City College Norwich's main campus on Ipswich Road. The PAL course supports young people with disabilities to explore and understand their own ‘pathway’ into adult-life.
In alignment with the National Development Team for Inclusion and their Preparing for Adulthood guidelines, the PAL course aims to assist students to live full lives post-education.
To achieve that, alongside providing access to a wide range of experiences and activities, students will receive high levels of support throughout the day, follow flexible timetables and have a programme shaped around their needs.
Students progression is informally assessed, and their independence prioritized at every step.
Students are set individual targets based on their Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP) outcomes and our curriculum.
The curriculum covers:
Communication and literacy
Number and problem solving
Life skills and Independence
Employability
Community and citizenship
Social and leisure
Sensory development and physical therapy
We work closely with parents/carers to plan each student's programme and how best to work with them. The provision can cater for up to 20 students.
Why Our College?
Specialist facilities
We have purpose built facilities for our inclusive learning students, including our purpose build Rug Room for students with Autistic Spectrum disorders, and our PAL building, for students who are preparing for adult life.
A centre for excellence
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has named City College Norwich as one of three Centres for Excellence in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) in England
Bespoke programmes
Our Inclusive Learning courses help you to progress to your next step through our bespoke group programmes delivered by a team of dedicated staff
Entry Requirements
Students usually progress from local Complex Schools to the PAL course.
Members of the PAL team visit those educational settings, talk to candidates’ teachers, key workers and parents/carers, and look at the documentation surrounding candidates to assess their suitability for the course.
The aim of the assessment is to identify candidates who will be able to progress on the PAL course and whose progression will meaningfully enhance their post-education life.
Entry is not based on any specific ability or disability, but potential students may have an autistic spectrum disorder, profound and multiple learning difficulties, communication difficulties, physical disabilities and/or visual/hearing impairments.
Assessment
There is no formal assessment on this programme. Students will have their progress towards individual targets continuously assessed and reviewed. Reviews with students and their parents/carers will take place throughout the year. Progression is tracked through target setting and recoding.
Progression
Students usually attend the PAL course for a second year. Students may progress onto further courses within Inclusive Learning or onto other programmes within the community.
Career Progression
Students from this course usually progress into Adult services or other community programmes.
Fees
Students will need to have successfully applied for and received funding. There will be some small costs throughout the year towards cooking, snacks and some activities. If you are unable to make these contributions you will need to discuss alternative arrangements with the course tutor.
Where Next?
Why Our College?
Specialist facilities
We have purpose built facilities for our inclusive learning students, including our purpose build Rug Room for students with Autistic Spectrum disorders, and our PAL building, for students who are preparing for adult life.
A centre for excellence
The Education and Training Foundation (ETF) has named City College Norwich as one of three Centres for Excellence in SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) in England
Bespoke programmes
Our Inclusive Learning courses help you to progress to your next step through our bespoke group programmes delivered by a team of dedicated staff
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