It’s been another successful start to the new academic year at Beechwood College, and the college has shared some exciting initiatives that it has introduced this term to promote learning and the development of new life and vocational skills.
New interactive communication software introduced in classrooms
This term the college has introduced TD Snap in all classrooms, which is a new communication software that provides a suite of accessible communication tools for non-verbal students and students with communication difficulties.
Available on all of the college’s interactive Promethean boards and portable tablets, the new software includes a comprehensive new symbol set, a large suite of helpful prompts to help students form sentences, and a customisable vocabulary which can be programmed for each student to include their frequent phrases and favourite words.
Students and lecturers at the college have really enjoyed experimenting with TD Snap this term, and the software has already made a really positive impact on communication in class.
Random acts of kindness
Students began a new project this term – random acts of kindness – with the goal of spreading positivity throughout their local community.
The project involved creating thoughtful gifts paired with positive messages to be left around the local area to be discovered by members of their community. In just a few short days their project showed it had positive impact, with students receiving a lovely note from a member of their community thanking them for their thoughtful gestures!
Expanded curriculum based on student feedback
The college has added a range of exciting new subjects to the curriculum based on feedback from students this year. Students decided what subjects they would like to learn about and areas that they would like to explore that might improve their future career prospects, which included subjects like Hair and Beauty, Engineering, and Photography.
The students have really enjoyed these new subjects; they have been developing some really useful new skills like learning how to clean an engine, making their own bath bombs from scratch, and creating dynamic photographic artworks using scanography.
The college is also now able to support students to gain a range of Essential Skills Wales (ESW) Qualifications, which are equivalent to GCSE qualifications. The ESW qualifications are available for a number of different subjects such as numeracy and communications, and lecturers have been impressed with the students’ progress towards these new qualifications.
For more information
To find out more about the education and support Beechwood College can provide for individuals on the autism spectrum, please visit www.beechwoodcollege.co.uk or get in touch with our team at 03300 567 888 or by email at referrals@beechwoodcollege.co.uk.
