Meadowpark Guide to Post School Opportunities by Jenn Davis

Edinburgh College

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 15:18:57 UTC

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Post School Courses at Edinburgh College
As well as mainstream courses, Edinburgh College has supported courses available.

Please click the picture above to visit the website.

School and College Partnership courses at Edinburgh College
Edinburgh college also run special introduction courses to allow you/your young person to experience college life while still attending school. Please speak to your/your young person's transition coordinator at school to find out what courses are currently available and advice on how to apply.

Funding for Edinburgh College

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 15:24:12 UTC

When you are thinking about going to college, one of the most important things to consider is funding and how you intend to pay for some of the costs that might come with being a student.

You will need to consider two things: How you will pay for any tuition fees (course costs) and how you will pay for your other living costs including travel, food, and accommodation (if this applied to you).

Some general funding information:
- If your course is below a certain academic level (below HNC level) and you are a UK resident there is usually no cost to you and no application for course fees is needed.

Edinburgh College have this handy Funding Tool so you can check what you'll need to do/what you'll be expected to pay: Funding Tool | Edinburgh College

Accessing Edinburgh College

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 15:42:35 UTC

Edinburgh college has a learning support department who offer a voluntary and confidential service to help students who tell us about a disability or additional support need. They can help plan for you/your young person's learning needs while they attend college. Please click the picture above for more details.

For some young people with certain specific needs or disabilities (e.g. significant physical needs) there may need to be additional consideration and planning made for how they can access their course. Edinburgh college have learning support staff that will be able to plan for their learning needs, but if there are any social care needs (e.g. personal care needs) this should be discussed and planned for well in advance as the college will likely not be able to provide this themselves - rather it will need consideration and assessments thorough social care teams. For further information, please discuss with your social worker.

Edinburgh College - Supported Courses

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 16:06:38 UTC

Please click the picture above to see the current supported post school courses at Edinburgh College. These courses known as the 'Routes into Education and Employment' options (previously known as Accessing Continuing Education or ACE courses).

Adjustments to these classes may include such things as: smaller class sizes, higher staff ratios, adapted courses etc. Support during break times and issues with navigation around campus can be planned for if needed with guidance from the college.

Newbattle Abbey College

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 16:23:54 UTC

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Newbattle Abbey College in Dalkeith is one of Scotland’s smallest colleges, and is situated among 125 acres of beautiful parkland and woods. Completing a course here can make a big positive impact. Whether the aim is academic progression, personal achievement, or to develop practical skills, a dynamic range of courses is available.

Funding for Newbattle Abbey College

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 16:45:41 UTC

A Further Education bursary is available for eligible full-time students aged 18 and over on some courses

An Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is available for eligible students. The EMA programme aims to provide financial support to 16- to 19-year-olds who are attending non-advanced learning in college, or are on an Activity Agreement.

Accessing Newbattle Abbey College

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 16:47:16 UTC

Newbattle Abbey college learning support department provide confidential support to create a personal learning plan, offering targeted support to people who have a range of support for learning requirements.

The college also has a care experienced forum, who consult with their care-experienced students on developments that can enhance the support already available.

Project Search

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 17:08:52 UTC

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Edinburgh Project SEARCH (EPS) provides employment and learning opportunities for young people with a disability who live within Edinburgh and the Lothians. A full time course for 1 year for those who are looking for full time work.

Other colleges

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 17:26:13 UTC

There are over 20 colleges around Scotland.

Post school opportunities

jdavis574 — 2024-09-26 17:55:04 UTC

There are a range of post-school destinations available to your young person.

For some of our school leavers, that is undertaking courses at Edinburgh College, embarking on an apprenticeship, or going straight into the world of work.

However this is not for everyone, and for many of our leavers, their path takes them to one of several providers of adult services and support.

On this page you will find advice, guidance and options for post school placements. This includes information on: colleges, community and adult learning opportunities, employability courses, and day service opportunities options.

Please scroll down this page to see all the relevant information.

You'll see there are also suggestions for other social opportunities and transition support suggestions towards the bottom of the page.

To apply for any of these opportunities, please discuss it with your school who can arrange for the best person to support you (e.g. through transition planning meetings).

Boost wellbeing

jdavis574 — 2024-10-11 08:20:19 UTC

Here you can find practical tips to boost your wellbeing

The One-Stop Shop for autistic adults

jdavis574 — 2024-10-11 08:22:25 UTC

Number 6 provides free social opportunities and 1-1 advice and support on a range of issues. It's based in Edinburgh and is for those over 16 yrs, who have autism but no additional learning disability.

Council-run Adult resource centres

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 12:51:45 UTC

The are centres in Musselburgh, Haddington, and Port Seton.

Fisherrow Hub is based in Musselburgh and provides support and weekday opportunities for young people and adults predominantly with a learning disability who are resident in East Lothian. We provide a range of structured activities at our Fisherrow base and in a range of community settings.

Tynebank Resource Centre offers support to young people and adults with learning disabilities with a particular focus on complex and additional support needs. We strive to encourage people to “be all they can be” by developing needs led activities and creative opportunities in both community and centre-based settings.

Port Seton Resource Centre is part of a lively, vibrant and thriving community centre. We offer support and structured activities that enable young people and adults with a learning disability and physical disability to take part and do things that are purposeful and meaningful to them, developing links within their own communities and other local facilities.

Teens Plus

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 14:00:34 UTC

Teens+ is a full time, transitional education project for young adults from age 17 onwards, with complex and severe communication needs, such as autism, who have left school and are entering adulthood. Teens+ support young people to achieve their goals and aspirations through an educational service tailored for the individual. They provide further education, life and social skills, offer work placement support, transition to ownership of tenancies and lifelong learning.

Teens + currently operate four sites, two in Edinburgh, and two in Musselburgh in East Lothian.

Upward Mobility

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 14:03:25 UTC

Upward Mobility provides tailored services either at home, or in the community, for adults with learning disabilities and autism, aged from 16 to 65. They offer a range of workshops, the offerings are mostly group ones, but occasionally 1:1 work can be accommodated.

Their East Lothian site is at Prestonpans Community Centre, however they also have several sites in Edinburgh such as at St Margaret's House, and in Leith. They provide educational support across a wide range of areas, including SQA courses.

How to apply for a place to these options

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 14:13:56 UTC

For the most part, referrals are requested to either come from family or from social work. Specific referral details can be found on each website. Although school may not be able to make the referral, we can support you with making one, or guide you through the process of making contact.

Edge Group

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 14:27:24 UTC

Edge offers full-time and part-time programmes and services for young adults, from age 16 onwards, who are autistic or have other additional support needs (ASN), who need a more holistic, vocational approach to support their transition to adulthood. Their programmes focus on sport, outdoor activities and learning, bespoke planning, cooking for independence, employability, volunteering and travel training.

They are based in Musselburgh and engage in activities across East Lothian.

Fairhill Rise - Ruskin Mills Group

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 14:45:24 UTC

Fairhill Rise offer a work and living skills development programme as part of an adult social care offer for individuals over the age of 16 who have left school. Its 60 acre site based near Longyester, comprises of mixed woodland, small holding, a range of workshop spaces, kitchen and horticulture buildings, a herb garden and apple orchard. Their programme focuses on practical work and living skills development, and social enterprise activities.

Garvald

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 14:51:58 UTC

Garvald is based on the Rudolph Steiner model, and has been running since 1969. Its focus is on the Arts, crafts, music and creativity. They offer a range of Creative Day services and workshops across three sites; two in Edinburgh, and one in Dalkeith. They also have a shop in Morningside where they sell their workshop crafts.

Scottish Autism

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 15:25:58 UTC

The Day Service in Musselburgh offers various opportunities for autistic individuals, supporting people to learn and develop new skills and take a full and active role in the community. Individuals are supported to identify their interests, wishes and aspirations, which are used to build a bespoke support plan.

There is also opportunity to work towards achieving qualifications through the Borders College Accreditation Programme.

Apprenticeships - Edinburgh College

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 15:42:17 UTC

Apprenticeships allow students from age 16 to learn while having the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace. Apprenticeships can range from one to four years and are designed to fit around employer requirements. They're designed to be assessed practically and provide the apprentices with skills for work and a qualification on successful completion. Edinburgh College provides apprenticeships in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS). They offer three types of apprenticeship: Foundation Apprenticeship (FA); Modern Apprenticeship (MA); Pre-apprenticeship.

Click on the picture at the top to find out more.

Find out about Scottish Apprenticeships

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 15:50:33 UTC

Find out about apprenticeships; what apprenticeships you could do, which employers you could work with and the qualifications you'll gain; search vacancies; read apprentice stories.

Venturing Out

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 17:04:53 UTC

Our ASN Adventurous Activities Provision delivers regular sessions of outdoor activities to East Lothian children who are unable to access mainstream activities due to the impact of their Additional Support Need.

These sessions offer the opportunity to experience activities such as water activities, archery, orienteering, bushcraft and tree climbing in a safe and supported environment.

This programme is part-funded by East Lothian Council.

Edinburgh Leisure

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 17:15:43 UTC

A range of programmes and activities to help those with additional support needs to access the facilities, sports and activities available with Edinburgh Leisure.

Also available is information about:

Carer Access Cards - designed to enable carers to support the individuals they are caring for when they visit Edinburgh Leisure facilities.

Disability concessionary rates are designed to provide support to enable people with disabilities or additional support needs to get active.

Bridges Project

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 17:24:29 UTC

Bridges Project are a youth work charity based in Musselburgh. They help young people take their next steps in life, like getting back into school, finding a job or an apprenticeship, or getting the help they need.

Into Work

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 17:30:15 UTC

Inclusion Works! programme to support young disabled people, aged 16 – 24, to increase their confidence, develop key transferable skills, and improve their health and wellbeing. Their focus is helping disabled and neurodivergent people and those with long-term health conditions achieve their goals of finding and keeping a paid job.

East Lothian Works

jdavis574 — 2024-10-23 17:54:22 UTC

The jump from school to the world of work and further education and training can seem daunting. East Lothian Works (ELW) will support you if you have already left school and need advice to help guide you through your next stage.

ELW currently support Meadowpark to offer a range of Pre-Vocational courses to our students, including foundation apprenticeships and school-college partnership courses.

They also offer a College Transition programme, and a Leavers programme.

Find out more about East Lothian Works by clicking on the picture above.

Street Soccer

jdavis574 — 2024-11-06 12:50:28 UTC

Street Soccer Scotland work across multiple locations using football inspired training and personal development as a medium to empower people who are affected by social exclusion. It uses the power of football to inspire people to change their lives.

Barnardo's Works - East of Scotland

jdavis574 — 2024-11-06 12:59:00 UTC

Supporting young people and their families who might normally face barriers, to secure independent and sustainable employment, study or further training.

Offering support services throughout East Lothian to those applying for college, looking for a job or apprenticeship.

Individual programmes to help young people aged 15-29 years to gain valuable life and work skills, qualifications and practical work experience.

Support extends to parents/carers to provide a more extensive family package.

General Parent / Carer guide

jdavis574 — 2024-11-07 11:05:19 UTC

For more general information, advice and support on what to expect for your young person in the lead up to leaving school, click on the picture above

Teens+ Next Steps

jdavis574 — 2026-02-27 18:37:54 UTC

Next Steps is a guided extension of Teens+ that enables young people with additional complex needs to develop skills & explore new experiences and discover what independence can look like for them.

They do this by creating opportunities for social inclusion and building a network to provide young people with access to new skills and training opportunities that align with their interests and goals in life.

Friends+ through Teens+

jdavis574 — 2026-02-27 18:50:00 UTC

We help students and their families 24/7 by providing personal support that fits alongside the family and meets the needs of the young person.

Our service operates outside of our Teens+ opening hours but uses the resources of our Teens+ service to offer safe and enjoyable activities for young people with complex communication needs, autism and its complexities.

We can offer weekday evening social clubs, one to one weekend or 24-hour support. We’re here to be flexible to your family’s needs.

If your young person is not currently a student at Teens+, but you are interested in using our Friends+ service, please contact us to discuss how we can help.