Citizenship

Citizenship

It is a priority that students learn to make productive use of their leisure time and are included in their communities. We offer a wide range of community and leisure activities, some of which are supported by our Manchester United Foundation SEND officer.

Students choose from a range of off and onsite activities including: cycling, swimming, boxing, the gym, visits to museums, parks, the pub, cafes, bowling, badminton, games sessions in the community and an inclusive computer gaming centre. We value creativity and the Arts and offer a range of opportunities for participation. 

The Arts Award is offered in response to student request for more creative subjects on the timetable.  The inclusive award is designed to be accessible to all and encourages students to actively participate in art sessions, attend  arts events, learn about artists and pass on an arts skill to others.

Skillful music making offers opportunities for engagement, communication and participation for all away from the constraints of language. Many of our students experience expression and social interaction in therapeutic music sessions through improvisation, intensive interaction techniques or engagement with familiar songs. Music sessions can be group sessions or 1:1 sessions depending on need.

Whilst in the community students develop their understanding of socially acceptable behaviour and their responsibilities as adults. They learn skills for travelling by foot, on college transport and where appropriate public transport.

Students learn about their local communities and access activities that they can continue with when they leave Brentwood, supported by their families or social care provision.  Students are encouraged to try a range of different activities and learn to communicate their feelings about them. They choose new indoor and outdoor activities and learn about suitable clothes to wear, if equipment is needed and how to participate safely interacting with peers and members of the community appropriately.

Students practice their literacy by learning to read social and safety signs in the community.

Additionally students access the community for one off events, eg the pub for our Christmas meal, special trips and celebrations and inter-college sports events.

Progress in this area is recorded in our Citizenship strand on Evidence for Learning.