Level 1 Personal & Social Development

At Warrington and Vale Royal College every learner is put first and we truly believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to raise expectations within themselves.

Personal and Social Development will support and encourage you to gain confidence, independence, communication & social skills and a develop a wide range of key employability skills in a friendly and nurturing environment. It’s about where you want to be in the future and how we can help you get there.

Personal and Social Development (PSD) is for young people aged16-19 who may have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP/HN) or it may simply be that you need a gentler introduction into college life and feel anxious about starting college and want to explore and develop skills for life, independence and work and prepare for adulthood. As a PSD college student, you will be supported to widen the opportunities available to you to help you move on to employment, a supported internship, independence or further study whilst gaining accredited qualifications at level 1.

As a unique individual we will work closely with you to identify your long-term destinations and set targets along the way so that you achieve as much independence as possible.

WVR is a great choice for local young people, living and learning where you live, developing friendships and being ambitious about your future.

The course duration can be anything from 1 year to 2 years.

Personal and Social Development (PSD) is for young people aged 16-19 who may have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP/HN) or it may simply be that you need a gentler introduction into college life and feel anxious about starting college and want to explore and develop skills for life, independence and work and prepare for adulthood. As a PSD college student, you will be supported to widen the opportunities available to you to help you move on to employment, a supported internship, independence or further study whilst gaining accredited qualifications at level 1.

As a unique individual we will work closely with you to identify your long-term destinations and set targets along the way so that you achieve as much independence as possible.

WVR is a great choice for local young people, living and learning where you live, developing friendships and being ambitious about your future.

The course duration can be anything from 1 year to 2 years.

Your individualised curriculum puts you at the centre and an exciting and engaging timetable has been put together for you over 4 days with day 5 focussing on industry placement. You will complete an Open Awards qualification in Skills for Further Learning and Employment that includes a range of interesting and relevant topics designed to help you problem solve, communicate and lead, be creative and innovative, use your initiative and ensure that your mental and physical well-being and health play a key role. Taking part in enriching activities in college and in the community will be a focus to enable you to be a part of your local community where you will live and work as independently as possible. You will have sessions in our independent living flat, learning essential household skills so you can help out at home and be prepared for living independently or moving on to supported living.

Throughout the year you will take part in a range of vocational experience days to give you a taste of what you might want to do the following year. These may include: construction & motor vehicle, health and social care, hair and beauty, graphics, media & ICT, art & performing arts, sport & public services and hospitality & catering.

Your class will help to run the Novel Bite Café, a real working café, open to the public. Your class will take turns in helping to run the café where you will work in the café for one day a week over a period several weeks. Valuable transferrable employability skills are learned in the café such as customer service, health & safety, food hygiene, handling money and food preparation.

There will be a range of trips and visits throughout the year, chosen to widen your experiences of your local area, develop confidence in new situations and to enhance your classroom based learning.

Some of our students go on to study a second year at Level 1 but the majority progress on to a Level 1 or Level 2 course in a vocational area. Preparation for Employment and Supported Internships are also popular progression routes for PSD students and we are happy to discuss this option with you. You may find that once you have gained qualifications in another curriculum area you return to Foundation and embark upon an exciting Supported Internship.

Industry Placement is a key part of your course and you will be given help and guidance in finding the right placement for you, day 5 of your week is dedicated to preparing you for placement which starts with an internal placement leading on to an external placement with an employer. Internal placements can be across college in a range of departments such as maintenance, catering, marketing, administration, reception and even the Principalship! You will get lots of support in preparing you for these great opportunities and your work at the café is a real confidence boost!

We have strong links with Warrington Hospital, Amazon, Warrington Council & Market and The Engine Rooms to name but a few and if a supported internship is one of your progression options then you may have the opportunity to work with one of these local leading employers. We have guest speakers from industry throughout the year and you will take part in work place visits to a variety of employers and working environments from construction to retail, entertainment to hospitality and catering.

We have a team of staff dedicated to providing learning support if it is required and a welfare team that are on hand to offer guidance, support and help when needed. Additionally, eligible students can access a wide range of finance and funding support to help them during their time at college.

• There are many providers who offer ‘similar’ courses, but what they can’t offer is the wide range of opportunities that will be available to you:

  • Individualised curriculum
  • Internal and external work placements
  • Enrichment activities, trips and visits
  • Links with local employers
  • Vocational experience days
  • Independent living skills
  • Running a café
  • Excellent progression routes
  • A team of dedicated staff with over 70 years of combined experience

There are no formal entry requirements for this course but it is expected that you will have gained entry level 3 at school or at college.

If there are any costs attached to trips and visits or any PPE required for experience days you will be given notice and all costs are kept to a minimum to ensure all learners can participate. Help may be available if learners are in receipt of a bursary.

Café uniform consists of black trousers/leggings/jeans, plain black t-shirt and flat, comfortable black shoes or black trainers.