Cambian Pengwern College

Cambian Pengwern College is an independent specialist College in North Wales, providing a high standard of education and care for students 16-25 with a moderate to severe learning difficulty, including Autism Spectrum Disorder. Offering the potential of day placements for local students and residential care for 38-weeks up to 52-weeks, they successfully support students with a broad range of complex needs including communication difficulties, and developmental disorders, including medical needs, such as PEG feeding.

The college is registered with the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales, (CSSIW) and Estyn who undertake regular and rigorous inspections in addition to our own internal quality assurance processes.

The College's person-centred approach ensures that students have an individualised learning programme developed to effectively match their needs, personal decisions and aspirations, be the focus on daily living skills, vocational qualifications or independent living.

Cambian Pengwern College offers various opportunities for external accreditation through the Qualifications and Credits Framework (QCF). These programmes of study allows students to develop skills in a number of areas; it gives greater choice and more flexibility allowing it to be bespoke to the individual needs of the student, including options to improve literacy, numeracy and communication skills, such as the use of Makaton, communication in print, Grid player and Proloquo2go. The core curriculum is complemented by a range of enrichment activities that enable students to develop new friendships and interests. They can choose from a variety of activities including arts and crafts, bowling, cycling, dance, football, music and photography.

Every student at Pengwern College has the opportunity to undertake internal or external work placements as part of their individualised learning programme. These opportunities and individual long-term goals are discussed with each student and are arranged to meet their specific needs.

Students attend weekly work experience throughout the academic year; with targets agreed and reviewed regularly during the placement to support progress. Learning focuses on the development of practical and vocational skills that can be implemented in the wider community. Areas of work include but are not limited to animal care, catering, hospitality, beauty and gardening. Such activities and placements have proven very effective in increasing young people's confidence in life after college.

At Pengwern College you will also find a sensory room providing a therapeutic environment that offers students a controlled and quiet space away from the bustle of College life: a place where they can fully relax and increase or decrease their sensory experience as they require. This calming environment utilises interactive lighting, bubble tubes, soft seating, mirrors, weighted blankets, rollers and balls to develop body awareness and balance. Our multi-disciplinary team use the sensory room to teach students calming techniques and how to use them in different environments.

Pengwern College have an excellent track record of enabling young people to gain the experience they need to live more independently and achieve their personal best.