Abingdon & Witney College have high aspirations for every learner. Whether you are on a journey to employment, an apprenticeship, supported internship, higher education and/or achieving greater confidence in being independent; our support can help.
We provide inclusive learning and strive to empower all our students with confidence that they can achieve their goals. Since we first offered support for students identified with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) in 2008, our student numbers have grown from 16 to over 100, each student joining us with their own special needs.
What is FEAST?
FEAST – the Further Education Autism Special Team – is our dedicated team of professionals who lead our Autism Support. They are based in our College ‘Green Rooms’, allocated space on our campuses that is only available to students with an Autism Spectrum Condition.
FEAST will listen to your aspirations and provide a framework of support to help you achieve your personal goals, ensuring you get the most out of your time at college. It might be you need support with the transition from school to college, the effects of certain environments on your senses, or with social anxiety in class and whilst on work experience. All challenges you may face can be explored and planned for by our Specialist Autism Advisors.
If you would like to meet a member of the Feast Team or find out more about the support we offer, please contact: autismsupport@abingdon-witney.ac.uk
What we can offer you
To help you integrate into college life successfully, we want to ensure you have a smooth transition into your study programme/course.
No matter what support you need, our friendly, approachable, experienced, and knowledgeable team of autism experts can help.
The support we can offer includes:
- Support during your transition from school to college and into employment or higher education.
- Targeted support in class to help you overcome a particular difficulty (e.g. organising work, sensory or anxiety/emotional concerns, executive functioning).
- Support with coursework and assignments through liaising with your course tutors.
- Specialist facilities including the ‘Green Room’ which has computers in a quiet location where you can work and space to support your self-regulation with staff that can give you guidance and mentoring.
- 1:1 study support, mentoring sessions, and progress monitoring.
- Support to create a communication plan that reflects how you want to interact with others in the college; including your peers, tutors, support staff and anyone else that is important to you.
Successful students
Ben studied Business at the College and has recently graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a First Class degree in Business and Management.
He now works as a learning assistant at a local school, supporting students who have special learning or social needs in class.
Noah started College on the Gateway programme and says "once I made the decision to join Gateway, I haven't looked back!".
Noah used the course to build his skills and confidence and then progressed on to a Supported Internship.
Hannah is currently studying on the Health & Social Care Level 3 course, and is passionate about improving the care services and making life more accessible for those with autism.
Hannah has also won a Student of the Year Award, something she is understandably very proud of!
