GAPS CENTRE
AboutTCHC
TCHCisanOfstedGoodproviderwhohavesupportedlocal communitiesacrossBedfordshire,Cambridgeshire,Essex, Hertfordshire,PeterboroughandSuffolkfor20years.Wehavehelped over500,000learnersprogressintobetteropportunities.
OurGAPScentresprovideaccesstoavarietyofstudyprogrammes tosupportentryintofurthereducationandwork.Setwithinthelocal community,weprideourselvesonthenurturingenvironmentour centresprovidewhichhelpsustogetthebestoutofourlearners.
TCHCprovidefullyinclusiveeducationensuringalllearningneeds canbemetusingadiverserangeofteachingandlearningresources andapproaches.AtourGAPScentres,youwillfindacalm,positive culturethatencouragessuccesswithallindividualsthatattend.
Supportive& nurturing environment
“I’velearntso muchandfee reallysupported
“TCHChavegiven methebestsupport andthegrades Ineedforlife!”
Small class sizes
1-2-1 SUPPORT
“Thetutorsareamazing andtheyreallycare aboutoursuccess."
“Myconfidencehas grownsomuch.”
INCLUSIVITY
andSUPPORT
Yoursupportrequirementswillbedetermineduponenrolment Tutorsupport
Learningsupportassistants
Careers,Information,AdviceandGuidance
Wellbeing
TCHCworkstoeffectivelyincludealllearners’learning differences.Wehavethefacilitiesandexpertisetosupport learnerswithspecialeducationalneedsincluding:
Sensoryneeds
Cognitionandlearning
Communicationandinteraction
Socialandemotionaldifficulties
Mentalhealth
AtTCHCweembedpreparingforadulthoodobjectivesto supportindividualsdevelopingtheirindependence.
TCHCGAPSprovidesapersonalisedandflexibleprogramme ofsupport,whichisupdatedregularly,togiveourlearnersa positivelearningexperience.Allcourseswillbeaccredited throughNationalAwardingBodies.
“Staffarefriendlyand welcomingandcaterto yourneeds.”
Youcanapplyforabursarytohelptowardsattendingthecourse.Ifeligible thiscanhelpinpayingfortravelbypublictransport,orsupportwithpetrol expenses,andlunch.Thefullamountisbasedonindividualneedand circumstance,whichwillbeassessedatthestartofthecourse.Speaktoa memberofstafftofindouthowabursarycouldworkforyou.
EntryRequirements &Eligibility
Youmustbeagedbetween16–18years
Oragedbetween16–24yearsandhaveacurrent Educational,health&careplan(EHCP)
Youmustbeabletoprovidevalididentificationprior toenrolment(passport/birthcertificate)
Noformalqualificationsarerequiredaswewill assessleveloflearningpriortoenrolmenttakinginto considerationpreviousqualificationachievements
WhatisaStudy Programme?
AtTCHC,yourstudyprogrammewillbeindividual andtailormadetofityourspecificneeds.
Yourprogrammewillbe38weekslongandthe daysyouattendthecentrewillbeconfirmed uponenrolment.
1. Vocational Aim
Youwillachieveanationally recognisedqualificationinthe subjectofyourchoice.
3. Personal Development &WorkSkills
Youwillbegivenextrasupportto helpyouprogressinlife.
2. Functional SkillsMaths &English
MathsandEnglishareessential skillsrequiredbyemployers.
4. Work Experience
Youwillhavetheopportunityto goonworkexperienceandgain skillsreadyforwork.
Vocational Courses
Whatisavocationalcourse?
Avocationalcourseisatrainingprogrammethat focusesmoreonpracticalwork,ratherthantraditional academicexams.
AtWatfordGAPS,weofferthefollowing vocationalcourses: Business&Retail FutureSkills
Ourdedicatedstaffarecommittedtoequippingyou withtheessentialskillsneededtoachieveyour qualificationsandexcelinyourcareerandfuture.
“I’velearntsomuch onthiscourse,it’s beenfuntolearn newskills.”
Business&Retail
EntryLevel3&Level1 Award/Certificate/Extended Certificate/DiplomainBusiness&Retail
Thisprogrammeistailoredtowardsteaching theskillsandknowledgerequiredtoapplyand progressintobusinessandretail opportunities.
Thecoursewillbedeliveredbothpractically andclassroombasedenablinglearnersto experiencerealopportunitiesandtaskswithin theindustry.
WhatwillIlearn?
Communicationskillsforwork
Workinginretail
Handlingstockinaretailenvironment
Handlingtelephonecalls
Healthandsafetyintheworkplace
Understandinghowtoworkaspartofa teaminretail
Customerserviceskills
Learningandunderstandingbusiness processesandsystems
Exploringentrepreneurship
Applyingforajob
Coursetripsandevents
Guestspeakers
English&mathsFunctionalSkillsis includedalongsidethisstudyprogramme.
CareerPaths
BusinessAdministrator,MarketingAssistant, Salesperson,CustomerServiceAssistantand FinanceAssistant.
“ThetrainingIhave receivedhasmade mebecomemore interactive.”
FutureSkills
Progression&LifeSkills-EntryLevel2or3 &Level1
Thisprogrammeistailoredtowardsteaching theskillsandknowledgerequiredtoprogress intoadulthood.
Thecoursewillbedeliveredbothpractically andclassroombasedenablinglearnersto experiencerealopportunitiesandtasks withintheindustry.
WhatwillIlearn?
Personalbudgeting
Communicationandlanguagetechniques
Studyskills
Improvepersonalmannerandconduct
Healthyliving
Personalskills
Traveltrainingandstreetsafety
Personalpresentation
Takepartincommunityprojects
Personalsafety
Managingproblems
Developingpersonalconfidence
Understandingassertiveness
Managingandcopingwithchange
Developingandmaintainingfriendships andrelationships
Decisionmaking
Developingresilienceskills
Exploringequalityanddiversity
English&mathsFunctionalSkillsisincluded alongsidethisstudyprogramme.
FunctionalSkills
Functionalskillsprovideessentialknowledge,skills,and understandingthatwillenableyoutoconfidently,effectively, andindependentlyprogressinlifeandwork.
AsaGAPslearner,youwillhavetheopportunitytoworktowards achievingmathsandEnglishqualificationswithasuitably qualifiedtutorthroughapersonalisedlearningplan.
WeuseapracticalapproachwhenteachingmathsandEnglish. Ourtutorswillhelpyouapplywhatyouhavelearnttoeveryday tasksandproblems. English&maths
WorkExperience
Whydoworkexperience?
Employersarealwayslookingforlearnerswhohavehadworkexperience. Youwillhavetheopportunitytoundertakeworkexperienceindifferentformats:
Blockworkexperience
Extendedworkexperience
Tasterdays
WhatwillIlearn?
Customerserviceandcommunicationskills
Commercialawarenessforyourplaceofwork
Workingontasksandmanagingyourself
Teamwork
Timemanagement
Howtouseinitiative
Useoffunctionalskills
Acceptingresponsibility
WhatwillIgetoutofit?
Throughhavingapositiveworkexperienceyou willbeabletousethisonyourCV;gaina referenceandhaveexperiencestotalkaboutin interviewsforemploymentorapprenticeships.
Ifavacancybecameavailableattheplacement, youcouldapplyiftheroleissuitable.
Yourexperiencewouldberelatedtowhatyour careeraspirationsare,inrelationstoyourstudies.
MEANSBEINGINTHECENTREATLEAST 95%OFTHETIME...ORHAVINGNOMORE THAN10DAYSOFF!
EDUCATION+ ATTENDANCE+EFFORT= ENDLESSPOSSIBLITIES! DON’TBOOK APPOINTMENTS DURINGSESSION TIME!
Moretimeinthe centremeans moretimetolearn, develop&grow!
Lesstimeinthe centremeansless timetobecome theverybestyou! Poor attendance meansless chances inlife! DAYS ABSENCE
DAYS ABSENCE DAYS ABSENCE
DAYS ABSENCE DAYS ABSENCE
Ihaddifficultieswithmaths andEnglishlessonsinschool, butsincejoiningGAPS,Ifeel I'velearntalotandammuch moreconfident."
FAQs forLearners
Q:HowdoIapplyforacourse?
A:Withintheprospectus,youwillseeyouroptionsonpage1,orcallusandwe willhelpyouthroughtheprocess.
Q:HowmanydaysaweekwillIattend?
A:Dependingonyourcourse,thiscouldbe3or4daysaweek.
Q:Whathappensattheendofmycourse?
A:YourtutorswillbesupportingyouthroughtheyearwiththeIAGadviser.They willworkwithyoutodevelopaprogressionplanthroughtheyearsoyoucansee youroptionsforwhenyourcoursefinishes.
Q:WherecanIgoforlunch?
A:Youhavetheoptiontoeatyourownlunchwithinthecommunalareasoryou canhaveaseparateroom.Insomecases,lunchcanbeprovided.Ifyouwantto buylunchtherearelocalamenitiescloseby.
Q:CanIhaveapart-timejobandstillattendGAPS?
A:Whileonyourprogramme,youwillbeabletoworkpart-timearoundyour programmedays.
Q:Arethereanybursariesavailabletome?
A:Youmaybeeligibleforabursarywhileineducation,thiswillenableyouto havesupportinthefollowingareas:travel,freelunchandclothingforinterviews.
FAQs forParents/Carers
Q:HowwillIbekeptinformedaboutmyyoungperson'sprogress?
A:Progressreportswillbeavailableduringthecourseoftheyear.Youwill alsobeabletodiscussyouryoungperson'sprogressatreviewsyouwillbe invitedtothroughouttheyear.
Q:Whatifmyyoungpersoncannotattendthecentre?
A:Callthecentreandspeakwiththecentrecoordinator/centremanager andinformthemwiththereasonofabsence. Youcanalsosendatextmessageoremailtoinformthefollowing:Name andreasonfornotattending(centrecoordinator/administratorwillfollow upwithacall).
Q:Whathappensifmyyoungpersonisbeingbulliedorharassed?
A:Thecentrewillnottoleratebullyingorharassment.Learnersshould informtheirpersonaltutor,safeguardingchampionorthecentremanager. Youcanemailwatford.gaps@tchc.netorsafeguarding@tchc.net
WhenIfirstjoined,Iwasaballofanger.Ihated educationandtheworld.Thestaffatthecentre tooktimetolistenandgettoknowmeandwould allowmetohavetimetomyselftothink.Over timeIgraduallystartedtomanagemyanger andfeltmorecomfortable.
