Choosing a college

Here are some tips on what to consider when choosing a college.

Visit first

The best way to find out if a College feels right for you is to visit it when students are around.

What type of college?

Independent specialist colleges are much better resourced than mainstream colleges. However to get funding for a specialist college you need to show that a mainstream college cannot meet your needs. There is an appeals system if you don't think the decision is fiar. If you want to go to a specialist college you should apply in plenty of time.

Expertise in your needs

It is important that the staff at the college understand your needs and can support you:

• Does the college have the staff skills and facilities to support all your disabilities?
• Are there already students at the college with similar needs to you?

Size and atmosphere

When you visit ask yourself:

• Does the college feel welcoming?
• Do students sound interested when they talk about what they do?
• Do you feel that people have got time for you?

Location

The location and facilities available will have an impact on your time at college and the potential you have to develop skills in the community:

• Can you access the community outside the College?
• Is there a town near the College with shops and other community activities?
• Can you link with mainstream education if you want to?

Subjects

You may be looking for academic subjects but remember you also need to learn to be an independent adult:

• Can the College provide the subjects you want at the correct level for you?
• Will you be able to learn independent living skills to help you become more independent?

Planning for the future

In the future you may wish to go into paid or voluntary work or mainstream education:

• Does the College have good links with employers?
• Are there good work placement opportunities?
• Do people progress into paid or voluntary work?
• Do people progress into mainstream further or higher education?

Eventually you may also want to move into independent or supported housing:

• Does the College prepare you for independent living or supported housing?

Inspection Grades

Don't just rely on what a college quotes on its web site, look up the inspection reports on the Ofsted web site.

There will be a report for education and there may also be an Ofsted report for residential care. As well as full inspection reports from Ofsted, you may also see Annual Monitoring Visits which report on progress.