New College Worcester - Family Events and Professional Training September 2019 to July 2020

A national residential 

School and College for 

young people aged 11 

to 19 who are blind or 

visually impaired 

Family Events and 

Professional Training 

September 2019 to July 2020 

A selection of free and very low cost events 

and courses for students with a vision 

impairment, the professionals supporting 

them and their families. 

www.ncw.co.uk 

01905 763933 

Events DL 20pp 2019 (7.7.19).indd 1 02/07/2019 14:49

About 

New College Worcester (NCW) is a 

national residential School and College 

for young people aged 11 to 19 who are 

vision impaired. 

NCW provides: 

• Academic focus for students with a vision 

impairment 

• Expert subject teachers qualified to teach 

the vision impaired and the resources 

available to facilitate that teaching 

• A ‘Waking Day’ curriculum – learning 

doesn’t stop at the end of the school day 

• An individualised approach for every student 

• An ethos which puts students first 

• A robust safeguarding environment 

• Increased student employability through 

academic achievement and social skills 

• High aspirations for every person 

• Outreach Service offering training and 

advice to mainstream settings 

The College prides itself on: 

• Providing opportunity for the academically 

gifted 

• Maximising educational outcomes for all 

vision impaired children 

• Equipping each student with skills for life 

that result in them being independent, 

self-confident and productive 


Learning at 

Every student has an individually 

tailored programme for academic 

learning, independent living skills and 

extracurricular activities. 

Students have a wide range of academic 

ability, following the National Curriculum at 

Key Stage 3, following onto GCSEs and 

A Level courses. The College offers some 

entry level and vocational courses in key 

stage 4 and 5 and some sixth formers follow 

vocational programmes at a local college 

supported by NCW staff. Students also have 

Independent Living Skills (ILS), Information 

and Communication Technology (ICT), 

Mobility, Braille and PE lessons, and some 

students follow ASDAN courses (personal, 

social and communication skills). 

The College accepts students with a wide 

range of vision impairments and some 

students have additional needs such as 

a hearing impairment, Autistic Spectrum 

Disorder or have limited mobility. 

Funding 

Places are usually funded by the 

student’s Local Authority, although 

self-funding students can also be 

accepted if, after assessment it is 

deemed NCW can meet their needs. 


Introduction 

New College Worcester is a national 

residential School and College for young 

people aged 11 to 19 who are blind or 

vision impaired. 

Every student attending NCW has a tailored 

programme, carefully planned and delivered to 

meet their individual needs in three key areas - 

academic achievement, independent living skills 

and extracurricular activities. The opportunities 

provided to students in these three areas of 

provision play a crucial role in the development of 

confidence and self-esteem and preparation for 

life beyond our College. 

All of our teachers are subject specialists and 

are also qualified teachers of the vision impaired. 

There is a wealth of experience and expertise 

amongst our teaching and care staff. The 

outreach events in this booklet offering training 

and advice to mainstream settings allow our 

staff the opportunity to share their skills for the 

benefit of many more young people with a vision 

impairment. 

If you do not see an event here that suits you, we 

can set up a bespoke day or external visit, simply 

get in touch. We look forward to welcoming you 

to the College. 

Nic Ross Principal 

@NewCollegeWorcester 

@newcollworc 

@newcollegeworcs 


Diary of Events 2019/20 

Saturday 21st September 

Sixth Form Open Day........................................06 

Thursday 3rd October 

Supporting Students with a Vision Impairment 

(including preparation for exams).......................07 

Saturday 12th October 

Family Day.........................................................08 

Friday 8th November 

Outreach Open Day...........................................09 

Wednesday 27th November 

Preparing Tactile Diagrams................................10 

Saturday & Sunday 18th & 19th January 

Year 5 Taster Weekend......................................11 

Thursday 30th January 

Introduction to LEGO Braille Bricks....................12 

Wednesday 5th February 


Wednesday 11th March 

Inside Screen Readers – The Basics..................14 

Thursday 12th March 

Inside Screen Readers - Advanced....................14 

Wednesday to Friday 1st – 3rd April 

GCSE Revision Course 

(including the Specialist VI Curriculum)...............15 

Saturday 2nd May 

Family Day.........................................................08 

Saturday & Sunday 16th & 17th May 


Tuesday 9th June 

Supporting Primary School Students.................16 

Wednesday 24th June 


Friday 3rd July 

Success in ILS...................................................17 

Saturday & Sunday 4th & 5th July 


Tuesday 21st to Thursday 23rd July 

Summer Activity Break......................................18 


Sixth Form Open Day 

The Sixth Form Open Day is the opportunity to 

find out all of the benefits of attending NCW at 

Sixth Form. You will learn about studying and living 

at NCW and how students prepare for onward 

transition into further or higher education, the 

workplace and independence. You will be able 

to tour the school and the residential side of the 

campus, meet the Head of Sixth Form and the 

Principal along with other members of staff and 

be able to chat to current students about life at 

NCW. You will also find out about the courses 

available to study – including GCSE re-takes, A 

Levels, BTEC and Vocational Courses along with 

information about NCW’s expanded 

core curriculum; Braille, mobility, 

Independent Living Skills, Assistive 

Technology and the skills 

you can learn to take you 

successfully on to the 

FREE 

EVENT* 

Who should 

attend: 

Young people with a vision 

impairment who are looking at 

options for sixth form study and their families 

Date: 

Saturday 21st September 2019 

Time: 

10am – 1pm 

How to book: 

Book online at www.ncw.co.uk 

or call 01905 763933 

* 

All meals and refreshments included 

06 


Introduction to 

Supporting Students with 

a Vision Impairment 

(including preparing for exams) 

This one-day workshop will be a practical 

introduction to supporting students with a vision 

impairment in mainstream classes. One of the 

optional sessions in the afternoon will focus on 

preparing students for external examinations; the 

other sessions will be on living skills and Braille. 

Topics will include: 

• Understanding the impact of vision 

impairment on learning 

• Options for materials adaptation 

• Effective strategies for working with 

students and teachers 

• Low vision aids 

• Introduction to Braille 

• Preparing students 

for exams 

ONLY 

£80* 

Who should attend: 

Teachers and Teaching Assistants who have 

recently started to work with a student with a 

vision impairment in a mainstream school 

Date: 

Thursday 3rd October 2019 

Time: 

10am – 3.15pm 



or call 01905 763933 

* 

Lunch and refreshments included 

(Pay on the day or NCW will invoice 

your organisation) 

07 


Family Day 

Family Day is a fun day for any family who 

has a child with a vision impairment. The day 

offers a range of activities for all ages plus 

parents, grandparents and siblings. There is an 

opportunity to look around the College and meet 

students and teachers in a relaxed environment. 

Examples of activities include: 

• Craft workshops 

• Independent Living Skills sessions 

• IT Advice 

• Mini Petting Zoo 

• Zorbing 

• Inflatable fun 

FREE 

EVENT* 


Any family with a child who has a vision impairment 

Dates: 

Saturday 12th October 2019 

Saturday 2nd May 2020 

Time: 

10.30am – 3.30pm 



or call 01905 763933 

* 


08 


Outreach Open Days 

These informal days give a taste of how NCW 

teaches students who are vision impaired. 

There is the opportunity to meet subject 

teachers as well as gain practical support 

and advice on specific curriculum areas of 

your choice such as Maths, PE, Music, ICT, 

Independent Living Skills, Science and Braille. 

ONLY 

£80* 


Education professionals who 

are supporting a student who 

is vision impaired or parents of a 

child with a vision impairment 

Dates: 

Friday 8th November 2019 

Wednesday 5th February 2020 

Wednesday 24th June 2020 

Time: 

9.45am – 3.15pm 



or call 01905 763933 

* 

Free of charge for parents 


09 


Preparing Tactile 

Diagrams 

This course will provide hints and tips on how to 

produce tactile diagrams for Science, Maths and 

Geography. An option on the use of Coreldraw will 

be available. 

ONLY 

£80* 


Education professionals who are supporting 

students who are vision impaired or parents of a 


Date: 

Wednesday 27th November 2019 

Time: 

9.45am – 3.15pm 



or call 01905 763933 

* 


10 


Year 5 Taster Weekends 

Our Year 5 Taster Weekend is a weekend 

of fun activities for young people who are 

currently in Year 5 who are considering a 

place at NCW when they move into Year 7. 

The weekend gives an insight into life at NCW 

and can help parents and students make 

an informed decision about their secondary 

school choice. Arrangements can be made for 

parents to stay on 

site if required. 

FREE 

EVENT* 


The taster weekend is for young people currently in 

Year 5 considering a place at NCW for Year 7 

Dates: 

Saturday & Sunday 18th & 19th January 2020 

Saturday & Sunday 16th & 17th May 2020 

Saturday & Sunday 4th & 5th July 2020 

Time: 

Arrive 11am on Saturday, depart 12 noon on Sunday 



or call 01905 763933 

* 

All meals and overnight accommodation 

are included 

11 


Introduction to LEGO ® 

Braille Bricks 

NCW has been working with LEGO ® in the 

development of LEGO ® Braille Bricks, a new 

learning resource for children and young 

people who are vision impaired. LEGO ® Braille 

Bricks are moulded with the same number of 

studs used for individual letters and numbers 

in the Braille alphabet, while remaining fully 

compatible with the LEGO ® System in Play. 

To ensure the tool is inclusive allowing sighted 

teachers, students and family members to 

interact on equal terms, each 

brick also features a 

printed letter or 

character. 

ONLY 

£80* 


Education professionals who are supporting 

students who are vision impaired or parents of a 


Date: 

Thursday 30th January 2020 

Time: 

9.45am – 3.15pm 



or call 01905 763933 

* 



12 


This ingenious combination brings a whole 

new and playful approach to get blind and 

visually impaired children interested in learning 

Braille, enabling them to develop a breadth 

of skills needed to thrive and succeed in a 

fast-paced world. 

This course offers the opportunity to find out 

how the bricks can be used inclusively in the 

classroom for a range of learners. 

13 


Inside Screen Readers 

Screen reading technology is the cornerstone of 

a blind person’s access to digital information. All 

interested delegates are welcome to attend either 

or both days for exploring a screen reader from 

the inside. 

Day 1, the basics, will cover computer and mobile 

screen reading programs. You will learn what a 

screen reader can (and cannot) do, the necessity 

of good keyboard or touch-screen skills and some 

invaluable tips. 

Day 2, advanced, will focus on using screen 

readers in education and will cover screen reader 

setup and configuration, Windows navigation and 

document editing, the internet, email and document 

sharing. Day 2 attendees will get a copy of the 

NVDA screen reader to take away plus discounts 

on training materials from 

NVAccess. 

Please bring your 

own laptop. 

ONLY 

£150* 


Parents/carers of children with a vision impairment, 

Teachers or Teaching Assistants and anyone wishing 

to deepen their understanding 

Date: 

Wednesday 11th March 2020 - Basic 

Thursday 12th March 2020 - Advanced 

Time: 

10am – 3pm both days 



or call 01905 763933 

* 



14 


l 

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bile 

e 

r 

d 

ent 

s 

GCSE Revision Course 

(including the Specialist 

VI Curriculum) 

This residential course supports students who 

are blind or vision impaired who are in Years 9, 

10 and 11 with preparations for GCSEs. Study 

sessions focus on Maths, English and Science 

and on study skills and exam technique. Evening 

activities are provided so the students have 

the opportunity to socialise, relax and have 

some fun too! Participants will have a choice 

of VI curriculum sessions (which will include 

Independent Living Skills, Mobility, 

ICT and specialist Braille codes). 

Students will stay in residential 

accommodation in the 

College houses 

(may be shared 

bedrooms). 

ONLY 

£100* 


Any student in Year 9, 10 or 11 who is vision impaired 

and working towards their GCSEs 

Date: 

Wednesday 1st April at 1pm to Friday 3rd April at 

1pm 2020 

Time: 

Arrive 1pm on Wednesday and depart 1pm on Friday 



or call 01905 763933 

* 

All meals and accommodation included 

(Hardship fund available for low income 

families) 15 


Supporting Primary 

School Students 

A day which focuses on the acquisition of 

core skills for primary school students with a 

vision impairment. The day will also include a 

short session looking at ways to help with the 

development of Living Skills. 

Morning: Pre-Braille and Literacy, Living Skills. 

Afternoon: Numeracy and Mathematics 

ONLY 

£80* 


Teachers and teaching assistants working with a 

primary school aged child, or parents of a vision 

impaired child at primary school. 

Dates: 

Tuesday 9th June 2020 

Time: 

9.45am – 3.30pm 



or call 01905 763933 

* 


All meals included 

16 


Success in ILS 

(Independent Living Skills) 

The day will explore methods of food 

preparation, introducing equipment and core 

weighing, measuring and transference skills. 

The aim of the day will be to introduce safe 

methods and processes to enable simple 

snacks to be made independently. It will be 

a chance for Year 8 and 9 students and their 

supporting adults to see how independent living 

skills can be delivered to meet their needs. 

The day will enable parents and support staff 

to feel confident in supporting 

their child within an educational 

or domestic kitchen 

environment. 

ONLY 

£80* 


Students in Years 8 and 9 who are vision impaired, 

their teachers and support staff and parents 

Dates: 

Friday 3rd July 2020 

Time: 

10am – 3pm 



or call 01905 763933 

* 

All meals included 

17 


Summer Activity Break 

A fun residential break for 11 – 16 year olds to 

take part in a range of activities and sports using 

the facilities and grounds at NCW. 

Three days and two nights of fun will include: 

Football, swimming, cooking, cricket, Boccia, 

multi gym sessions, goalball, tandem riding, 

archery and arts and crafts. Evening activities 

will include fun in the Youth Club, an Open Mic 

Night, a quiz, BBQ and disco. 

Accommodation will be on site in the Student Houses and 

could be shared rooms. 

Accommodation for parents can be organised in our bed & 

breakfast accommodation at an extra cost and subject to 

availability. 

ONLY 

£85* 


Young people who are blind or 

vision impaired aged 11-16 years 

Dates: 

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 21st – 23rd July 2020 

Time: 

10am – 5pm 



or call 01905 763933 

* 

Per person. Includes two night’s 

accommodation and meals 

18 


Summary of Events 

For Students and Families 

Sixth Form Open Day 

Family Days 

Year 5 Taster Weekends 

GCSE Easter Revision Course 

Summer Activity Break 

For Professionals 

Introduction to Supporting Students with a 

Vision Impairment 

Preparing Tactile Diagrams 

Success in ILS 

Suitable for Parents and Professionals 

Supporting Primary School Students 

Outreach Open Days 

Introduction to LEGO Braille Bricks 

020 


We are here 

New College Worcester 

Whittington Road, Worcester WR5 2JX 

T: 01905 763933 

E: info@ncw.co.uk 

www.ncw.co.uk 

@NewCollegeWorcester 

@newcollworc 

@newcollegeworcs 

Don’t miss our 

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New College Worcester - Family Events and Professional Training September 2019 to July 2020

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