Contents
Howtoapply
AboutTCHC
Howwesupportyou
OFSTED
FinancialSupport&Bursaries
Entryrequirementsandeligibility
Whatisastudyprogramme?
Vocationalcourses
Business&Retail
FutureSkills
FunctionalSkillsEnglishandmaths
Personaldevelopment&workskills
Workexperience
Attendance
Learnercasestudies
Wordsfromparents/carers
FAQsforlearners
FAQsforparents/carers
Contactdetails
Pursuingexcellence,openness supportingeachother,Instilling confidence,transformational leadership,inspirational,valuing diversityandempoweringothers
WhoareTCHC?
TCHCisanOfstedGoodproviderwhohavesupportedlocal communitiesacrossBedfordshire,Cambridgeshire,Essex, Hertfordshire,PeterboroughandSuffolkfor20years.Wehave helpedover500,000learnersprogressintobetteropportunities.
WhatisGAPS?
OurGAPScentresprovideaccesstoavarietyofstudy programmestosupportentryintofurthereducationandwork. Setwithinthelocalcommunity,weprideourselvesonthe nurturingenvironmentourcentresprovidewhichhelpsustoget thebestoutofourlearners.
TCHCprovidefullyinclusiveeducationensuringalllearning needscanbemetusingadiverserangeofteachingandlearning resourcesandapproaches.AtourGAPScentres,youwillfinda calm,positiveculturethatencouragessuccesswithall individualsthatattend.
HOWWE SUPPORTYOU HOWWE SUPPORTYOU
AtTCHCweprovideopportunitiesto developindependenceskillsand prepareforadulthood.
TCHCGAPSprovidesapersonalised andflexibleprogrammeofsupport, whichisupdatedregularly,togiveour learnersapositivelearning experience.
Yoursupportrequirementswillbe determineduponenrolment
Tutorsupport
Learningsupportassistants
Careers,Information,Adviceand
Guidance
Wellbeing
TCHCstrivestoeffectively accommodatealllearners’learning differences.Wehavethefacilitiesand expertisetosupportlearnerswith specialeducationalneedsincluding:
Sensoryneeds
Cognitionandlearning
Communicationandinteraction
Socialandemotionaldifficulties
Mentalhealth
OFSTEDSAID
LearnersatTCHCenjoyandvaluetheeducation thattheyreceive.Theyappreciatebeingtaught insmallgroupsandlearningatapacethathelps themtosucceed.Learnerscommentpositively abouttheflexibleapproachtolearningandhow tutorsteachsubjectsinbitesizetopicssothat learnerscanunderstandthemthoroughlybefore movingontothenexttopic.Learnerslikethe friendlyandhelpfulapproachoftutorsatTCHC. Theyfeelwelcomeandwellsupported.
WORKING INSMALL GROUPS
AtTCHCweunderstandthatevery youngperson’seducationaljourneyis unique,whichiswhyweprioritise supportiveandinclusivelearning environments.
Oursmallgroupsettingsencourage collaborativelearningandalloweach individualtoexpressthemselveswhile feelingvaluedandunderstood.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT& BURSARIES
Youcanapplyforabursarytohelp towardsattendingthecourse.If eligiblethiscanhelpinpayingfor travelbypublictransport,orsupport withpetrolexpenses,andlunch.The fullamountisbasedonindividual needandcircumstance,whichwillbe assessedatthestartofthecourse. Speaktoamemberofstafftofindout howabursarycouldworkforyou.
WhoisGAPSfor?
Youmustbeagedbetween16–18years
Oragedbetween16–24yearsandhaveacurrent Educational,health&careplan(EHCP)
Youmustbeabletoprovidevalididentificationprior toenrolment(passport/birthcertificate)
Noformalqualificationsarerequiredaswewillassess leveloflearningpriortoenrolmenttakinginto considerationpreviousqualificationachievements 16-18and16-24
WhatisaStudy Programme?
AtTCHC,yourstudy programmewillbe individualandtailormade tofityourspecificneeds. Yourprogrammewillbeup to38weeksdependingon yourstartdateandthedays youattendthecentrewillbe confirmeduponenrolment.
Participatinginastudy programmecangreatly enhanceyourfutureby equippingyouwithessential skillsandexperiences.
DuringyourtimeatGAPSwewill helpyouexplorecareerpaths throughworkplacementsand guideyouonhowtogetthere.
1. Vocational Aim
Youwillachieveanationally recognisedqualificationinthe subjectofyourchoice.
2. Functional SkillsMaths &English
MathsandEnglishareessential skillsrequiredbyemployers.
3. Personal Development &WorkSkills
Youwillbegivenextrasupportto helpyouprogressinlife.
4.
Work Experience
Youwillhavetheopportunityto goonworkexperienceandgain skillsreadyforwork.
SSTART TART YYOUR OUR JJOURNEY OURNEY
Whatisavocationalcourse?
Avocationalcourseisatrainingprogrammethat focusesmoreonpracticalwork,ratherthantraditional academicexams.
AtWatfordGAPS,weofferthefollowing vocationalcourses:
Ourdedicatedstaffarecommittedtoequippingyou withtheessentialskillsneededtoachieveyour qualificationsandexcelinyourcareerandfuture.
Business Business &Retail &Retail
EntryLevel3&Level1Award/Certificate/Diploma inBusiness&Retail
Thisprogrammeistailoredtowardsteachingtheskillsand knowledgerequiredtoapplyandprogressintobusinessand retailopportunities.
Thecoursewillbedeliveredbothpracticallyandclassroom basedenablinglearnerstoexperiencerealopportunitiesand taskswithintheindustry.
WHATWILLILEARN?
Communicationskillsforwork
Workinginretail
Handlingstockinaretailenvironment
Handlingtelephonecalls
Healthandsafetyintheworkplace
Understandinghowtoworkaspartofateaminretail
Customerserviceskills
Learningandunderstandingbusinessprocessesandsystems
Exploringentrepreneurship
Applyingforajob
Coursetripsandevents
Guestspeakers
English&mathsFunctionalSkillsisincludedalongsidethisstudy programme
WHATJOBSCANYOUDO
BusinessAdministrator
MarketingAssistant
Salesperson
CustomerServiceAssistant
FinanceAssistant
Ifeelreallysupported andthelessonsare helpingmegetthe qualificationsIneed.
FFuture uture SSkills kills
Progression
EntryLevel3andLevel1-CertificateinProgression
Thisprogrammeistailoredtowardsteachingtheskillsand knowledgerequiredtoprogressintoadulthood.
Thecoursewillbedeliveredbothpracticallyandclassroom basedenablinglearnerstoexperiencerealopportunitiesand taskswithintheindustry.
WHATWILLILEARN?
Personalbudgeting
Communicationandlanguagetechniques
Studyskills
Improvepersonalmannerandconduct
Healthyliving
Personalskills
Traveltrainingandstreetsafety
Personalpresentation
Takepartincommunityprojects
Personalsafety
Managingproblems
Developingpersonalconfidence
Understandingassertiveness
Managingandcopingwithchange
Developingandmaintainingfriendshipsandrelationships
Decisionmaking
Developingresilienceskills
Exploringequalityanddiversity
English&mathsFunctionalSkillsisincludedalongsidethisstudy programme.
FFUNCTIONAL UNCTIONAL SSKILLS KILLS
English&maths
Functionalskillsprovide essentialknowledge,skills, andunderstandingthatwill enableyoutoconfidently, effectively,andindependently progressinlifeandwork.
AsaGAPslearner,youwill havetheopportunitytowork towardsachievingmathsand Englishqualificationswitha suitablyqualifiedtutor throughapersonalised learningplan.
Weuseapracticalapproach whenteachingmathsand English.Ourtutorswillhelpyou applywhatyouhavelearntto everydaytasksandproblems.
Personal Development &WorkSkills
Personal&social developmentsessions
Employabilityskills-CV buildingandinterview techniquesandtips
Independentliving
FundamentalBritishValues
Keepingsafeandhealthy
Workexperience opportunities
Mentalwellbeing
Engagingingroup activities
1-to-1IAGsupportand guidance
Work Experience
Whydoworkexperience?
Employersarealwayslookingfor learnerswhohavehadwork experience. Youwillhavetheopportunityto undertakeworkexperiencein differentformats: Blockworkexperience
Extendedworkexperience Tasterdays
WhatwillIlearn?
Customerserviceand communicationskills Commercialawarenessfor yourplaceofwork Workingontasksand managingyourself Teamwork
Timemanagement Howtouseinitiative
Useoffunctionalskills Acceptingresponsibility
WhatwillIgetoutofit?
Throughhavingapositiveworkexperienceyouwillbeableto usethisonyourCV;gainareferenceandhaveexperiencesto talkaboutininterviewsforemploymentorapprenticeships.
Ifavacancybecameavailableattheplacement,youcould applyiftheroleissuitable.
Yourexperiencewouldberelatedtowhatyourcareer aspirationsare,inrelationstoyourstudies.
MEANSBEINGINTHECENTREATLEAST 95%OFTHETIME...ORHAVINGNOMORE THAN10DAYSOFF!
Moretimeinthe centremeans moretimetolearn, develop&grow!
DAYS ABSENCE
DAYS ABSENCE DAYS ABSENCE
Lesstimeinthe centremeansless timetobecome theverybestyou! Poor attendance meansless chances inlife!
DAYS ABSENCE DAYS ABSENCE
LearnerA
BACKGROUND
LearnerAwasreferredtoGAPSbyhispreviousschool.Hepreviouslyheldthe beliefthateducationwastediousandinvaluable.PriortojoiningGAPS,hehad achievedGCSEsinMathsandEnglishbuthadnotparticipatedinanywork experience.
SUPPORTFROMTCHC
AtGAPS,LearnerAhasstartedaconstructioncoursewhichhethoughtwas appropriateashewantstogointoconstructionafterhefinisheswith education.
SUPPORTFROMTCHC
LearnerAsayshehaslearntalotabouttheconstructionindustryandcannot waittocompletehiscourse.Hehasfeltmorecomfortablelearninginthe GAPSenvironmentandthetutorshavehelpedhimcommunicatewithothers moreeffectively.
BACKGROUND
LearnerBwasintroducedtoGAPSbyhisprevious school.Hedidn'tlikeeducationatschoolbecausehe didn'tgetthesupportherequired.LearnerBfeelsthat thereweretoomanypeopleintheclassrooms.
SUPPORTFROMTCHC
AtGAPSLearnerBfeelsthathewassupportedthrough 1-2-1sessions.
SUPPORTFROMTCHC
LearnerBisworkingtowardsqualificationsinboth EnglishandmathsandBusiness&Retail.Their confidencehasgrownandtheyfeelmorecomfortable speakingandworkingwithotherlearners.
LLEARNERCASE EARNERCASE STUDIES STUDIES
LearnerB
WORDSFROM WORDSFROM PARENTS/CARERS PARENTS/CARERS
“Iamwritingtoexpressmysinceregratitudefortheexceptional staffatGAPS.Astheparentofanautisticyoungpersonwhohas facedsignificantchallengesinhiseducationaljourney,Iam incrediblypleasedtoseethepositivetransformationheis experiencingsincejoiningthisprovision.Thededication, understanding,andunwaveringcommitmentshownbythe teamhavemadearemarkabledifferenceforhim.
TheholisticapproachatGAPS,issomethingtrulyspecial. Ibelieveitisremovingbarrierstolearningandofferingyoung peopleapathwaynotonlytoeducationalsuccessbutalsoto improvingtheirfamilywell-being.Iamconfidentthattheir approachwillcontinuetohaveaprofoundimpactonthelives oftheyoungpeopletheyserve.”
“ThestaffatGAPShavebeen amazinglysupportive, encouragingandempowering ourdaughtertosucceed! Theyhavebeenamazing! Wehaveourdaughterback!”
“It'sasafeenvironment thatunderstandsmy child’slearningneeds.”
“SinceAbbiejoinedGAPSher independenceandconfidence hasgrownbeyondwhatwe couldimagine.
Abbie’sfuturelooksfar brighter,andwecannotthank thestaffenoughforhelping herbelieveinherself.”
FAQs FORLEARNERS
Q:HowdoIapplyforacourse?
A:Withintheprospectus,youwillseeyour optionsonpage2,orcallusandwewillhelp youthroughtheprocess.
Q:HowmanydaysaweekwillIattend?
A:Dependingonyourcourse,thiscouldbe3 or4daysaweek.
Q:Whathappensattheendofmycourse?
A:Yourtutorswillbesupportingyouthrough theyearwiththeIAGadviser.Theywillwork withyoutodevelopaprogressionplan throughtheyearsoyoucanseeyouroptions forwhenyourcoursefinishes.
Q:WherecanIgoforlunch?
A:Youhavetheoptiontoeatyourownlunch withinthecommunalareasoryoucanhave aseparateroom.Insomecases,lunchcan beprovided.Ifyouwanttobuylunchthere arelocalamenitiescloseby.
Q:CanIhaveapart-timejobandstill attendGAPS?
A:Whileonyourprogramme,youwillbeable toworkpart-timearoundyourprogramme days.
Q:Arethereanybursariesavailabletome?
A:Youmaybeeligibleforabursarywhilein education,thiswillenableyoutohave supportinthefollowingareas:travel,free lunchandclothingforinterviews.
Q:HowwillIbekeptinformedaboutmy youngperson 'sprogress?
A:Youwillalsobeabletodiscussyouryoung person 'sprogressatreviewsyouwillbe invitedtothroughouttheyear.
Q:Whatifmyyoungpersoncannotattend thecentre?
A:Callthecentreandspeakwiththecentre coordinator/centremanagerandinformthem withthereasonofabsence.
Youcanalsosendatextmessageoremailto informthefollowing:Nameandreasonfornot attending(centrecoordinator/administrator willfollowupwithacall).
Q:Whathappensifmyyoungpersonisbeing bulliedorharassed?
A:Thecentrewillnottoleratebullyingor harassment.Learnersshouldinformtheir personaltutor,safeguardingchampionorthe centremanager.
Youcanemailwatford.gaps@tchc.netor safeguarding@tchc.net
