We provide high-quality person-centred support through our Learning and Behaviour Specialist Team. Learn more about the support we provide for learners.

Learner Voice

It is critical that our learners have a voice and a choice in how they learn. We have Learner Councils on both campuses. We also have a number of ways of listening creatively to our learners and hearing what they want to tell us about college life.

Transition into college

Transition is a personalised process and requires careful planning and support. When a place has been agreed, we will send out a welcome pack and work with the learner and their family to ensure a successful move from their current school or college to Ambitious College. 

Before young people come to the college for the first time, we recommend they take a virtual tour of the campus they are due to visit. This is a good way to alleviate anxiety. We are also happy to supply a social story for those who might find this a useful way to explain a visit to a new place.

As part of the transition process we arrange meetings with the young person, families, and professionals to ensure we have all the information we require to best support them. We also arrange an observation of the young person within a familiar setting. A member of our support team is allocated to lead on the transition for the young person, overseen by one of our experienced managers. To ensure a successful transition we arrange visits to the college site and rapport building sessions, steadily increasing the amount of time spent in the college before the confirmed start date.

When they begin all first-year learners undertake a staggered start, increasing the number of days they attend each week until they reach full-time. We find that this supports a successful transition for year one learners but also for our existing learners within the college. 

Transition from college

Just as important as a successful transition into college is a successful transition from college. We ask young people and their parents to start thinking about life after college as soon as they start college. This might seem a bit strange, but the earlier we can plan for transition, the more successful it will be.

Funding

Our learners are funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the local authority, usually from education budgets, with some input from social care and/or health, as best meets the learner’s needs. Personal budgets can also be used to contribute to a placement at Ambitious College. The final decision about funding a place is made by a learner’s local authority. It should consider the family’s expressed preference and our assessment. Under the Children and Families Act 2014, a parent or learner can name a preferred college in an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

Free college meals

The government provides funding for the provision of free meals for learners who qualify for assistance. The amount per meal is set by the government and a meal is provided where a learner attends college over the lunchtime period. The meal is provided by accessing food retailers within the local area to purchase a meal up to the value stated above as the college is not able to provide a catering provision.

Applications for free meals for the academic year must be submitted to the college by 30 June. An application would need to be submitted for each academic year. Further details can be found in the Ambitious College Provision of Free Meals Policy.

If you require assistance with the policy contact the college and we will arrange for support to be provided.

Bursary funding

Ambitious College has bursaries which are available for young people who meet the criteria and require financial help to overcome the individual barriers to participation they face such as essential books, equipment, specialist clothing and transport.

• Vulnerable bursary (for learners aged 16-19 only)
• Discretionary bursary

Applications for bursaries for the academic year must be submitted to the college by 30 June. An application would need to be submitted for each academic year. Further details can be found in the Ambitious College Bursary Fund Policy.

If you require assistance with the policy, contact the college and we will arrange for support to be provided.