InFocus College

About InFocus College

We are a charity supporting young people with visual impairments - and often a broad range of other complex needs. Our mission is to help our students reach their potential, maximise independence and find their place in the world.

Our College offers bespoke further education courses for 16-25 year olds from across the UK. We're able to provide both residential and day placements to young people who have left the structure of school and are looking for the next step into adulthood.

Our courses are designed around the unique needs of each student. All pathways ensure young people are helped to communicate better, improve advocacy, explore their potential and reach the greatest possible level of independence.

Education

InFocus College brings together assistive and communication technology, therapy and teaching resources to deliver a diverse, practical and meaningful learning programme.

We create a structured and challenging learning environment built around each student's individual needs, with particular emphasis on meeting both the vision impairment and complex care needs as an integrated and embedded experience.

Our curriculum model is built on five key areas which develop skills, promote values and foster positive attitudes and behaviours.

Together with each student we focus on:

Core life skills - embracing life to the fullest

Social and Community - living healthy and happy lives

Voice and Choice - advocating for themselves

Independence - maximising daily living skills

Work - developing meaningful occupation

We can also guide students to gain qualifications in a range of different areas from GCSEs through to specialist accreditation frameworks for people with learning disabilities.

Specialist staff

All the members of our core InFocus team are specialists in their field and employed directly by us. This means we can share all their individual knowledge and expertise in working together to directly benefit each and every student.

By establishing this in-house team, we are able to create a close community where staff and students feel like family - further supporting progress and wellbeing.

Thanks to our own expert staff and selected external contractors, we can provide:

• Vision impairment practitioners with CVI specialism

• Rehabilitation and habilitation specialists (mobility and orientation)

• Tutors in braille and other access technologies

• Specialist nurses

• Experienced support workers

• Qualified teachers

• Speech and language therapists

• Occupational therapists

Our facilities

Alongside our expertise, we benefit from enviable onsite facilities within our peaceful, self-contained 13-acre campus.

• 25m heated swimming pool (used for leisure as well as hydrotherapy)

• Separate hydrotherapy pool

• Well-equipped sensory room

• Mechanical therapy horse

• Trampolines for rebound therapy

• Specialist communication and mobility aids and equipment available to meet a wide range of needs

• Extensive outdoor sensory learning areas including a discovery garden

• Separate Outdoor Learning Centre in the Devon countryside for forest school, horticulture and exploration

• Onsite radio station and music room

• Indoor and outdoor gym equipment