Learning Hub
Our Learning Hub is a three-year programme for school leavers with additional support needs.
Learning Hub
Our Learning Hub is a three-year programme for school leavers with additional support needs.
Learning Hub
Our Learning Hub is a three-year programme for school leavers with additional support needs.
Sense Scotland's Learning Hub
What is the Learning Hub?
The Learning Hub is a three-year individualised programme aimed at school leavers, aged 18 – 21, at risk of not entering a positive destination due to their complex additional support needs.
It aims to:
- Support young people to develop skills, meet their long-term goals and gain qualifications
- Promote social inclusion, peer support and friendship development
- Fill an urgent gap in support for young people who might otherwise remain at home with a parent or carer, impacting the family’s finances and wellbeing
- Enable young people to identify suitable services, support and opportunities to meet their long-term needs
The Learning Hub is located at TouchBase Glasgow and will run for 46 weeks of the year, Monday – Friday (9:30am – 3:30pm) with two weeks off at Christmas, two weeks off in July, one week off at Easter, and one week off in October.Â
Who is the Learning Hub for?
The Learning Hub is for young people aged 18-21 with complex additional support needs who are in the process of leaving school. At the moment, this is exclusive to young people from the Glasgow City Council area.
How will learners be supported?
Learners attending the Learning Hub will be supported by our Learner Support Team, led by our Learner Support Lead. The team is there to ensure all of the learner’s care and support needs are met while in attendance, which might include personal care, medication, communication support, and supporting behaviour or distress.Â
What will the learning look like?
Learners will follow a programme based on their learning style, interests and abilities, as well as what they and their families would like them to achieve while attending the Hub. This will be developed through a person-centred planning assessment process.
The model is developed around a specialised learning curriculum – one that is designed and developed based on the core learning styles that many of our learners will experience. Within this context, we call them learning pathways. This means that the model of each learner’s curriculum will be based on their sensory requirements (e.g. learning through touch or sensory stories).
Although each pathway is distinct, there will be crossover points and many opportunities for social and peer interaction, whether timetabled or informal. For all learners, there will be a continued and robust focus on promoting independence and individual skills specific to this.
Additionally, the learning structure will be based around four key areas: Creative, Physical, Independence and Community.Â
Will the learning be accredited?
Learning at our Learning Hub will be accredited in different ways, depending on the individual and the substance of their learning. For example, learning may be structured through an external award like the John Muir Award, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, or the Outdoor Learning Award.Â
Equally, for some learners, their learning might be reflective of and accredited by SQA qualifications. These will largely be at levels one and two of the SCQF framework. For some young people, their learning progression might be measured and tracked using our goals and outcomes-based system.
What is the assessment process?
As part of the process to ensure that the Learning Hub is suitable for prospective learners and is able to meet all their educational, physical and health needs, individuals who apply must undergo an entry assessment.
Pre-entry information is collected from relevant stakeholders associated with the applicant. This includes schools, social workers/care managers and other professionals, including health professionals. We also ask that you share some of the current support plans as well as other paperwork that has been collected, such as communication passports and transition plans.
As part of the assessment process, the team will assess the totality of prospectus learners. This might include but is not limited to care and support; health and medical; educational; communication and behaviour support.Â
During the assessment process, we will ask to come along and meet the young person in their school or current setting to allow us to engage with them in a place they are familiar with. We may also ask to attend some of their transition meetings and reviews to hear more about them and understand their transition goals. We will also ask to meet with the people who know any prospective learners the best.Â
The assessment process is designed to ensure that Learning Hub is able to meet learners’ needs, whilst also understanding the level of support a learner might require while attending.
How do placement offers work?
Following our assessment, using this information and our visits to meet the young person, a decision will be made on whether we can meet their needs within the resources available at the Learning Hub. Where possible, an offer will be issued to the applicant and their local authority within 10 days of the completion of the assessment.
Where a place at the Learning Hub has been offered, the applicant, parent/carers and the local authority will be advised of the next steps. All placements at the Learning Hub will be conditional until confirmation of funding having been received.
Successful applicants will participate in a transition process prior to attending the Learning Hub to support what we understand is a period of significant change for the young person. We understand the challenges young people can face during a period of transition, which is why we like to ensure we create a supportive transition for starting. This will include visits to the Learning Hub, and meetings with support and learning staff.
Where, following the assessment process, a placement would not be suitable and no place will be offered, a letter advising this will be sent to the applicant, parent/carers and the local authority. Within this letter, we will explain the reasons why we are unable to offer a place.
How do I apply for the Learning Hub?
If you or someone you support is interested in signing up for our Learning Hub, please complete the form below. Once completed, a member of our Learner Support Team will be in contact to arrange the next steps of the assessment process. As part of this process, the team will arrange to visit the young person in their school or current setting, as well as make contact with teachers and school staff.
Places will be offered on a conditional basis, and will be confirmed once individuals have a confirmed care budget in place. In order to get this, individuals should contact their local adult social work team.Â
If you have any questions, please contact learninghub@sensescotland.org.uk.Â
Frequently asked questions
You can find answers to a number of frequently asked questions about our Learning Hub here.Â
