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Our programme for learners identified as having severe learning difficulties. Here, students choose options termly, based on their needs and aspirations.

            

Independent living skills – In the Taking the Lead pathway we offer a range of different lessons centred around independent living skills. Through use of the life skills caravan at Crimdon Dean, students experience real life tasks associated with living independently, such as preparing meals, cleaning, cooking and budgeting. In addition to healthy eating in cookery lessons, the students develop their key skills to prepare a range of meals, understanding the needs of a balanced diet and eating appropriately around others. Students also use our flat to practise the skills needed to look after their own home.

    

    

Work Related Learning – Our students are encouraged to access the world of work and we strive to support them every step of the way towards gainful employment. Within the centre, we have excellent facilities which students can experience a real working environment; these include our bistro vestry and even our own shop positioned in Hartlepool town centre. If students choose to develop further, we have many links to local employers which has led to full-time employment for several of our students.

    

ICT/Media – We have a specialist media teacher at Catcote as well as our own film production company called Catcote Productions. We make a range of entertaining and educational films as well as ‘Catcote Cooks’, our weekly cookery show. We have state of the art digital equipment and our own Green Screen to ensure that our projects are only limited by our imagination! In our reprographics room we have a suite of Apple Mac computers and many portable devices such as digital cameras and iPads to ensure we are at the cutting edge of learning.

    

Sport and Leisure – Physical well-being is extremely important and at Catcote Futures we have a specialist sports teacher who provides a range of appropriate exercise-based experiences for all learners. From wheelchair dancing to rugby, orienteering to cricket and Zumba, there are a range of sporting activities for everyone!

      

Horticulture – Horticulture is a very well-established area at Catcote Futures. Students learn how to work safely and use tools correctly to grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers in well-equipped facilities. These include a greenhouse, poly tunnel and garden buildings. Students also enjoy working and learning in the extensive grounds and our sensory garden.

    

Enterprise – For many years enterprise has been the backbone of teaching and learning at Catcote. Students learn valuable work, business, team building and life skills through practical learning activities around enterprise. This includes working with educational establishments across the world and producing a range of products for sale at local fairs and in our Catcote Metro shop.

         

Community & Environment – We are proud of the facilities in Hartlepool and encourage our students to experience as many of them as they can. From taking photographs of local landmarks and beauty spots for our annual calendar, exploring birds and seals at Saltholme RSPB to visiting a range of shops, cafés and restaurants, we are committed to ensuring that our students are valuable and well-respected members of our local community. We also have our own caravan at Crimdon Dene Caravan park where students practice life skills, employability skills and can stay with their families!

           

Physical and Emotional Well-being – Catcote futures boasts a professional beauty salon with adjoining Jacuzzi, which is overseen by a full-time hair and beauty teacher. Students are encouraged to give and receive a variety of treatments and therapeutic experiences to maximise their physical and emotional health. We have two trained Thrive practitioners who work with students with social and emotional health difficulties in a sensitive and empathetic manner.

    

  
The Arts – At Catcote Futures we enjoy a range of art and craft-based experiences including pottery in our fully functional pottery room. We have a large ‘Creative Crafts’ space which gives students the opportunity to use various materials to create individual pieces of art and sculpture. Students can also work with a range of resistant materials in our fully functional woodwork shop. Students who enjoy performing arts can choose a variety of modules including exploring performance, exploring dance and much, much more.

     

PHSE & Citizenship – Through focused pastoral sessions and a range of targeted lessons, students learn the skills to look after themselves, stay healthy, make sense of the world around them and the expectations of society at large. This includes respecting the role of law, understanding and welcoming diversity and making social and moral choices.

  

Student Voice & Advocacy – Student voice is at the heart of everything we do, with students fully in control of their learning experiences and day-to-day happenings in the curriculum. We have a thriving student council at Catcote Futures who work with our senior leadership team to make a real impact in future developments at the college.

    

Enrichment – There are many enrichment opportunities at Catcote, we offer a focused enrichment afternoon where students to choose from a menu of appropriate and exciting choices such as cake decorating, singing and signing choir, filmmaking, outdoor pursuits and more.