Transforminglivessince2004
TCHCisanOfstedGoodproviderwhohavesupportedlocalcommunitiesacrossBedfordshire, Cambridgeshire,Essex,Hertfordshire,GreaterLondon,PeterboroughandSuffolkfor21years.We havehelpedover500,000learnersprogressintobetteropportunities.
WHOARETCHC? WHATISGAPS?
AtWatfordGAPS,weusearangeofteachingandlearningtechniquestosupportourlearners withSENDandSEMH.Ourteamconsidersindividualneedswhenplanningtheircurriculum andprovidetailoredresourcesandinstructionsineachlesson.Weuseregularassessments onprogressandcollaboratewithotherprofessionalstoensureindividualsuccess.
Setwithinthelocalcommunity,weprideourselvesonthenurturing,calmandpositive environmentourcentreprovideswhichhelpsustogetthebestoutofourlearners.
HOWWESUPPORTYOU HOWWESUPPORTYOU
Weareaspecialistprovisionsupportinglearnerswitharangeofneeds,including ADHD,autismandsocial,emotionalandmentalhealthneeds.Weunderstand thateverylearnerisdifferent,andweaimtoprovidetherightbalanceof structure,supportandindependencetohelpthemsucceed.
Oursmallclasssizesallowustobuildstrongrelationshipswithlearnersand provideindividualisedsupportthroughouttheday.
WHATSUPPORTLOOKSLIKE
Dailycheck-instosupportwellbeingandreadinessforlearning
Consistentroutinesandclearexpectations
SupportwithinlessonsfromtutorsandSENsupportstaff
Acalmandstructuredenvironment
PASTORALSUPPORT
Dedicatedpastoralsupportfromexperiencedstaff
Smallmentoringgroupstosupportbehaviourandemotionaldevelopment
One-to-onesupportwhenneeded
Safeguardingsupportledbyourdesignatedsafeguardinglead
TARGETEDSUPPORTANDINTERVENTIONS
Smallgroupsessionsfocusedoncommunication,behaviourandconfidence
One-to-onesupportforlearnerswhoneedextraguidance
Creativeandholisticsessionstosupportexpressionandwellbeing
SENDSUPPORT
SupporttailoredtoADHDandautism,includingclearroutinesandstructured learning
RegularreviewofindividualneedsandEHCPtargets
Closecommunicationbetweenstafftoensureconsistentsupport
OURAPPROACH
Weaimtocreateasupportiveenvironmentwherelearnersfeelunderstood, respectedandabletosucceed Ourfocusisonbuildingconfidence,developing independenceandpreparinglearnersfortheirnextsteps.
TCHCGAPSprovidesapersonalisedandflexibleprogrammeofsupport, whichisupdatedregularly,togiveourlearnersapositivelearningexperience.
WORKINGINSMALLGROUPS
AtTCHCweunderstandthateveryyoungperson’seducationaljourneyisunique,whichis whyweprioritisesupportiveandinclusivelearningenvironments.
Oursmallgroupsettingsencouragecollaborativelearningandalloweachindividualto expressthemselveswhilefeelingvaluedandunderstood.
FINANCIALSUPPORT&BURSARIES
Youcanapplyforabursarytohelptowardsattendingthecourse.Ifeligiblethiscanhelpin payingfortravelbypublictransport,orsupportwithpetrolexpenses,andlunch.Thefull amountisbasedonindividualneedandcircumstance,whichwillbeassessedatthestart ofthecourse.Speaktoamemberofstafftofindouthowabursarycouldworkforyou.
OFSTEDSAID
LearnersatTCHCenjoyandvaluethe educationthattheyreceive.Theyappreciate beingtaughtinsmallgroupsandlearningata pacethathelpsthemtosucceed.
Learnerscommentpositivelyabouttheflexible approachtolearningandhowtutorsteach subjectsinbitesizetopicssothatlearnerscan understandthemthoroughlybeforemoving ontothenexttopic.Learnerslikethefriendly andhelpfulapproachoftutorsatTCHC.They feelwelcomeandwellsupported.
WHATISASTUDYPROGRAMME?
AtTCHC,yourstudyprogrammewillbeindividualandtailormadetofit yourspecificneeds.
Yourprogrammewillbeupto38weeksdependingonyourstartdateand thedaysyouattendthecentrewillbeconfirmeduponenrolment.
WHOISGAPSFOR?
Youmustbeagedbetween16–18yearsoragedbetween16–24years andhaveacurrentEducational,health&careplan(EHCP) Youmustbeabletoprovidevalididentificationpriortoenrolment (passport/birthcertificate)
Noformalqualificationsarerequiredaswewillassessleveloflearning priortoenrolmenttakingintoconsiderationpreviousqualification achievements
Takingpartinastudyprogrammecanmakearealdifferencetoyourfuture byhelpingyoudevelopvaluableskillsandgainmeaningfulexperience.
DuringyourtimeatGAPS,we’llsupportyouinexploringdifferentcareer pathwaysthroughworkplacementsandguideyouonthestepsneededto achieveyourgoals.
VOCATIONALAIM
FUNCTIONALSKILLSMATHS&ENGLISH
MathsandEnglishareessentialskillsvaluedbyemployers acrossallindustries,helpingyoucommunicateclearlyand solveproblems.
Whatisavocationalcourse?
Avocationalcourseisatrainingprogrammethatfocusesmore onpracticalwork,ratherthantraditionalacademicexams.
AtWatfordGAPS,weofferthefollowingvocationalcourses: Health&Care Nail&Beauty Progression
Ourdedicatedstaffarecommittedtoequippingyouwiththe essentialskillsneededtoachieveyourqualificationsandexcel inyourcareerandfuture.
HEALTH&CARE(LEVEL1)
Thispathwayisdesignedforlearnerswhoarereadytotakethenextstep.Itfocuseson understandingpeople,communication,mentalhealthandreal-lifesituations.
Youwilltakepartindiscussions,activitiesandscenariosthathelpyouapplyyourskills andprepareforyournextsteps,whetherthatiscollege,trainingorwork.
WHATWILLILEARN?
Howtocommunicateeffectivelywithothers
Understandingmentalhealthandwellbeing
Howtoworkwithdifferentpeople
Stayingsafeandunderstandingsafeguarding
Howtorespondtoreal-lifesituations
Preparingforworkandfuturepathways
English&mathsFunctionalSkillsareincludedalongsidethisstudyprogramme
WHATLESSONSARELIKE
Lessonsarediscussion-basedandinteractive.Youwilltakepartinroleplay,groupworkand real-lifescenariosratherthanjustsittingandwriting.
THISPATHWAYISFORYOUIF...
YouarereadyforaLevel1qualification
Youcantakepartindiscussionsandgroupwork
Youwantsomethingmorepractical
Youarethinkingaboutyournextsteps
IMPORTANTTOKNOW
Thispathwayisnotjustaboutworkingincare.Itgivesyouskillsthatcanbeusedinmany differentjobsandineverydaylife.
WHEREITCANLEAD
Level2coursesatcollege
Apprenticeships
Employmentorfurthertraining
NAIL&BEAUTY(LEVEL1&2)
Thisprogrammeistailoredtowardsteachingtheskillsandknowledgerequiredto applyandprogressintothebeautyindustry.
AWARD/CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMAINHAIR&BEAUTYSECTOR-LEVEL1 WHATWILLILEARN?
Assistwithfacialskincaretreatments
Assistwithdaymake-up
Assistwithnailservices
Assistwithsalonreceptionduties
Guestspeakers
Prepareandmaintainsalontreatmentworkareas
Contributetothedevelopmentofeffectiveworking
Ensureresponsibilityforactionstoreduceriskstohealthandsafety
CERTIFICATEINBEAUTYTHERAPYSERVICES-LEVEL2
WHATWILLILEARN?
WorkinginBeautyrelatedindustries
FollowH&Spracticeinthesalon
Clientcare&communication
Providefacialskincare
Manicuretreatments
Pedicuretreatments
English&mathsFunctionalSkillsisincludedalongsidethisstudyprogramme
CareerPaths
NailTechnician,BeautyTherapist,MakeupArtist, BeautyConsultant,SalonOwner/Manager,Beauty
ProductRepresentativeandSkinCareTherapist.
PROGRESSION(LEVEL1)
Thispathwayisdesignedtohelpyoubuildconfidence,independenceandeverydaylife skills.Itisthestartingpointforlearnerswhowanttodevelopthemselvesinasupportive environmentbeforemovingontotheirnextstep.
Youwillfocusonimprovingyourconfidence,communicationandpersonal developmentwhilebuildingtheskillsyouneedforfuturepathways,collegeorwork.
WHATWILLILEARN?
Howtobuildyourconfidence
Personaldevelopmentandself-awareness
Communicationskills
Independentlivingskills
Workingwithothers
Interviewpreparation
English&mathsFunctionalSkillsareincludedalongsidethisstudyprogramme.
WHATLESSONSARELIKE
Lessonsaresupportiveandstructured,helpingyoubuildskillsstepbystep.Youwillworkat yourownpacewithguidancefromstaff.
THISPATHWAYISFORYOUIF...
Youwanttobuildyourconfidence
Youneedsupportwitheverydayskills
Youarenotquitereadyforamoreindependentcourse
Youpreferastructuredandsupportiveenvironment
WHEREITCANLEAD
HealthandCarePathway
OtherLevel1qualifications
Furthereducationortraining
ENGLISH&MATHS
FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
FunctionalSkillshelpyoubuildtheknowledge,confidence,and practicalabilityyouneedtosucceedineverydaylifeandthe workplace.
AsaGAPslearner,you’llhavethechancetoworktowardsmaths andEnglishqualificationswithsupportfromasuitablyqualified tutor.Yourlearningwillfollowapersonalisedplandesigned aroundyourgoalsandstartingpoint.
WeteachmathsandEnglishinapractical,hands-onway.Our tutorshelpyouusewhatyoulearninrealsituations,from everydaytaskstoproblem-solvingatwork.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT &WORKSKILLS
AtTCHCGAPSwewillsupportyouindevelopingthepersonal,social,andlifeskills neededforeverydayliving,furtherlearning,andfutureemployment.
Youwillbuildconfidence,independence,andwellbeingwhilereceivingguidanceand supporttailoredtotheirindividualneeds.
WHATWILLILEARN?
Youwilldevelopimportantskillsandknowledge,including:
Personalandsocialdevelopmentsessions
Employabilityskills,includingCVbuildingandinterviewtechniques
Independentlivingskills
UnderstandingFundamentalBritishValues
Keepingsafeandhealthy
Opportunitiestotakepartinworkexperience
Developingpositivementalwellbeing
Engagingingroupactivitiesandteamwork
Accessto1-to-1IAGsupportandguidance
WORK EXPERIENCE
WHYDOWORKEXPERIENCE?
Workexperiencewillallowyoutopreparefortheworldofworkanddevelopskills thatemployersvalue.Itwillallowyoutobuildconfidence,understandworkplace expectations,andgainexperiencethatcansupportfutureemployment,training, orapprenticeships.
Itwillallowyoutotakepartinworkexperienceindifferentformats,including:
Blockworkexperience
Extendedworkexperience
Tasterdays
WHATWILLILEARN?
Customerserviceandcommunicatio
Commercialawarenessforyourplace
Workingontasksandmanagingyour Teamwork
Timemanagement
Howtouseinitiative
Useoffunctionalskills
Acceptingresponsibility
WHATWILLIGETOUTOFIT?
Havingapositiveworkexperiencewillallow youto:
AddvaluableexperiencetoyourCV
Gainareferencefromanemployer
Buildexamplestotalkaboutin interviewsforjobsorapprenticeships
Ifasuitablevacancybecomesavailable duringyourplacement,youmaybeableto applyfortherole.Yourexperiencewould berelatedtowhatyourcareeraspirations are,inrelationstoyourstudies.
MEANSBEINGINTHECENTREATLEAST 95%OFTHETIME...ORHAVINGNOMORE THAN10DAYSOFF!
DAYS ABSENCE
Moretimeinthe centremeans moretimetolearn, develop&grow!
10
DAYS ABSENCE
19 29
DAYS ABSENCE
Lesstimeinthe centremeansless timetobecome theverybestyou!
DAYS ABSENCE
38 47
DAYS ABSENCE
Poor attendance meansless chances inlife!
DAYS ABSENCE
WORDSFROM WORDSFROM
“Sincethefirstday,Ihavefelt comfortableinthiscentreandwell supportedinnotonlymyworkbut myfuturecareerchoicesaswell.”
MYLES
“Ihaveenjoyed learninginawaythat helpsmeunderstand.”
“Thestaffalwayspush youtobethebestthat youcanbe.”
S T A N L E Y
“Mytutorsmakethework tailoredtomeandiambuilding myconfidencewithinevery lesson.”
“GAPShaschangedourdaughterslife.Shehad aterribleexperienceatapreviouscollegedue tobullying.Herconfidence,self-esteemand mentalhealthwasatrockbottom.Thestaffat GAPShavebeenamazinglysupportive, encouragingandempoweringourdaughter tosucceed!Theyhavebeenamazing! Wehaveourdaughterback!”
“Thecollegehasbeen excellentsincemy daughterstartedallstaff arehelpfulhertutoris excellenttoo.Thecollege haveareallyrelaxed atmosphere.Shehas settledinreallywellso gladIchangedher collegecanseeabig differenceinmy daughter.”
“GAPShastrulybeena positiveturningpointin mydaughter’slife.Her confidencehasgrown,her socialskillshaveimproved andshenowknowswith hardworkshecanhavea futureregardlessofher disabilities.”
“Thestaffatthe centrehave beenincredibly supportiveto mydaughter (andmyself).”
“Staffarefriendly,helpfulandkind. Thesmallgroup,adultsupervision, supportandencouragementhas beenofsomuchbenefittoourchild. Wewishmoreyoungpeoplehadthe opportunitytolearninthistypeof environmentwhichisobviouslyfar moreconducivetolearning andwellbeing thanmainstream educationprovision ormanychildren.”
WORDSFROM WORDSFROM
PARENTS/CARERS. PARENTS/CARERS.
HowdoIapplyforacourse?
YoucanapplybyscanningthisQRcodeoralternativelyhead overtowww.tchc.netandclickthe‘QuickApply’buttoninthe cornerofthescreen.
HowmanydaysaweekwillIattend?
Dependingonyourcourse,youwillusuallyattend3daysperweek.Your timetablewillincludeclassroomlearning,practicalsessions,and,where applicable,workexperience.
Whathappensattheendofmycourse?
YourtutorswillbesupportingyouthroughtheyearwiththeIAGadviser. Theywillworkwithyoutodevelopaprogressionplanthroughtheyearso youcanseeyouroptionsforwhenyourcoursefinishes.
WherecanIgoforlunch?
Youhavetheoptiontoeatyourownlunchwithinthecommunalareasor youcanhaveaseparateroom.Insomecases,lunchcanbeprovided.If youwanttobuylunchtherearelocalamenitiescloseby.
CanIhaveapart-timejobandstillattendGAPS?
Yes,youcanworkpart-timealongsideyourprogramme,aslongasit fitsaroundyourscheduledcoursedays.
Youmaybeeligibleforabursarywhileineducation.Thiscanprovide supportwithtravelcosts,freemeals,andclothingforinterviews. Arethereanybursariesavailabletome?
FAQs FORPARENTS
Howwillmyyoungpersonbesupported?
Learnersreceivesupportfromtutors,subjectspecialists,andtheIAG adviser.Theyalsohaveaccessto1-to-1guidancetohelpwithlearning, progression,andpersonaldevelopment.
HowwillIbekeptinformedaboutmyyoungperson'sprogress?
Weprovideregularupdatesthroughprogressreports,parent/carer meetings,andcommunicationwithtutorstokeepyouinformedabout youryoungperson’slearningandachievements.
Whatifmyyoungpersoncannotattendthecentre?
Callthecentreandspeakwiththecentrecoordinator/centremanagerand informthemwiththereasonofabsence.Youcanalsosendatextmessage oremailtoinformthefollowing:Nameandreasonfornotattending.
Howdoyouhelpwithcareerplanning?
LearnersworkwithourIAGadvisertocreateaprogressionplan, exploringcourses,apprenticeships,andlocalemploymentopportunities thatmatchtheirgoals.
Whatsafetymeasuresareinplace?
Alloursitesfollowstricthealthandsafetypolicies,safeguarding procedures,andriskassessments.Learnersareguidedonsafepractice inclassrooms,workshops,andanyworkexperienceplacements.
Whathappensifmyyoungpersonisbeingbulliedorharassed?
Thecentrewillnottoleratebullyingorharassment.Learnersshouldinform theirpersonaltutor,safeguardingteamorthecentremanager. Youcanemailwatford.gaps@tchc.netorsafeguarding@tchc.net
