Gillingham campus student Joshua began attending EMA in September 2024 and has overcome multiple barriers since then which has helped him hit targets and achieve goals, making his family and the staff working with him immensely proud.
Tutor, Susanna, has provided some insight into what an average week at EMA is like for Joshua, and the various specialised support techniques that are in place to meet his diverse needs and ensure his time at EMA enables him to keep hitting those goals.
“Josh has an authorised late start to help him transition into the day. This gives him the flexibility to arrive at college after the morning rush when it’s a bit quieter, and as a result of this, we have seen a marked increase in Josh’s overall attendance. Work experience is also a big part of his timetable, which has included helping carry out the weekly vehicle checks with our maintenance staff and front of house activities in our hospitality training space, including using the barista machine.”
Staff adapt their teaching for further direct support too. Joshua’s lessons are highly structured for predictability. As well as the weekly timetable, Joshua has daily timetables so he can quickly see where he is in his day. A visual lesson plan also helps him know what to expect in each session, and he has access to timers which he uses to help him know how long activities will last. Staff also work flexibly with Joshua to help him regulate his alertness and engagement levels through a range of activities. This helps him co-construct his lessons and helps give him ownership over his own learning.
One of his recent personal achievements is being able to independently log on to a computer and begin to type known words. This was a huge step and a long-term target. Josh is also beginning to explore using assistive technology to support his reading comprehension and recording his ideas. This has been a cross curricular effort in English and Digital Skills lessons.
He’s also made great progress in Preparation for Adulthood – planning cooking, following a recipe, and even visiting the supermarket to shop for food, ticking off a shopping list, scanning items himself at the self-service and paying with cash. Being confident with these little day-to-day tasks means Josh can be more independent not just at college, but outside of it too and after he graduates.
Josh expressed that he “likes the work, the staff, and the training cafe at EMA”. English games and worksheets are also highlight. He likes how supportive the staff are, and the extra time given to him. Josh’s mum also shared her thoughts on this past academic year. “Joshua has settled in well – moving to EMA was a big change. He has connected well with his support staff and he has even been out in the mini bus which is big achievement!”
We’re so pleased to have seen Joshua make such great progress this year and we look forward to him being able to tick off those future goals!
Our Gillingham campus is a welcoming and inclusive environment designed to meet the needs of students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD), anxiety disorders, social, emotional and mental health (SEMH). We provide a safe, supportive space where students can grow, thrive, and achieve their full potential, with access to tailored resources and dedicated staff, ensuring students are fully prepared for their future through individualised learning pathways. For more information on our study programmes, please reach out for an initial conversation.
