Independence Hub

Team picture of 6 females outside the Foundation Hub building.

Your guide to the Independence Hub

As part of Hampshire County Council’s Living Futures pathway for young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), we are equipped to deliver an appropriate education and training resource provision through our Independence Hub. This is to support young people with SEND to remain in their local community and engage in inclusive post-16 education. Our Independence Hub facilitates high-quality, accessible and effective learning inside Hampshire’s Further Education network. This is to support Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) and young people with complex needs to develop the independent living skills they need to participate and thrive, both at college and in the wider community.

Preparing for Adulthood

Our Independence Hub provides a safe space that has specialised facilities designed to meet learners’ needs. Importantly, its location on our main campus in Brockenhurst means that learners are integrated into the wider Brock community. The Hub delivers a bespoke curriculum for learners, reflecting our guiding principles. Above all, it is about preparing for adulthood, supporting young people to progress to independent lives and fulfilling futures. In fact, the overarching curriculum is actually entitled Preparing for Adulthood, and it has been developed by the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTI) and endorsed by the Department for Education (DfE). It sets out four outcomes, based on what SEND young people say is most important to them. These curriculum elements comprise: Independent Living, Employment, Community Inclusion and Health.

Eligibility criteria

The Independence Hub provides the space and resources for high-needs learners to attend college in their local area. This support is available to young people who are entering their first year in post-16 education after leaving secondary school and who have MLD or complex needs. We provide a five-day-a-week provision for three years and then a further two year part-time provision at post-19. Eligibility for the Independence Hub is based on individual needs. For those it is designed to support, it represents an appropriate educational next step.

Through the consultation process with the Hampshire SEN Team, an Independence Hub placement may be offered to:

  • Post-16 students who are entering Year 12 full-time, and for whom the programme is deemed an appropriate educational next step, may be offered a full-time provision.
  • Post-19 students who are entering Year 15, and for whom the programme is deemed an appropriate educational next step, may be offered a two-year part-time provision.
  • Students whose needs are appropriate to the provision available to them, which may include:
    • Young people with complex communication needs.
    • Young people with moderate learning difficulties.
    • Young people whose medical needs can be met in line with our Supporting Learners and Staff with Medical Conditions policy.

Please note that we do not have the human resources to offer 1:1 support throughout the college day – we can provide small group support only.

Facilities

Facilities in the Hub include:

  • Five accessible classrooms.
  • Medical Room.
  • Hygiene Room.
  • Sensory Room.
  • Garden.
  • Social space and dining area.
  • Dedicated drop off/pick up area.
  • Secure swipe-in-and-out system.
  • Therapy Room for speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
A picture of two females on the left is Sarah and on the right is Joy. They are sat at a table in the social space of the Independence Hub.

Applications

There are eight spaces available each year.

Places will be agreed between Hampshire County Council and the College. To discuss joining the Independence Hub as a learner, please contact your young person’s SEND caseworker and/or discuss options at their next annual review.

For more information, please contact:

Sarah Dudley
Foundation Learning Administrator
sjdudley@brock.ac.uk
01590 625556

Or Joy Blakeney
Foundation Independence Hub Manager
01590 625578

Parent Testimonials

"The Independence Hub is custom made and purpose built for our young person with special needs."

"The Independence Hub feels like a 'family' and it feels like everyone is looked after, treated and respected for their individual differences."

"The Independence Hub treats the young adults like grown-ups and allows them to be included in a safe way"

"The young adults are all so happy here and all get to socialise together in safe spaces where they can be themselves"

"The input seems to be age-appropriate and students are given their individual targets to work to. These are small and achievable."

"As parents, we love the specialist input from Speech and Language, Music, Art, Sports and the opportunities to integrate into the community"