My Independence: Transforming Aspirations
About this course
What is Transforming Aspirations?
The Transforming Aspirations course aims to better prepare young people for the next stage in their education and for good life outcomes.
The Transforming Aspirations activities provide opportunities to cover the compulsory national curriculum subjects at key stage 4 (computing is not included as a standalone subject but can be covered in the optional open activity within each pathway) and are mapped to the four Preparing for Adulthood pathways:
- friends, relationships and community
- employment
- good health
- independent living
This will enable educational providers to link learning opportunities to an individual’s Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) outcomes. The course can both inform the development of outcomes and provide evidence of their achievement.
The film below explains how the programme has been designed to help young people with SEND develop a breadth of outcomes required to live independently and achieve good life outcomes.
| Learner age | 14–16 |
| Level | Entry level (indicative) |
| Key Stage | Key Stage 4 |
| Education setting | Special school, EOTAS, Academy / Multi-academy trust, Independent school, Secondary |
| Regulated | Non-regulated course |
| Certification | Externally certificated, hard-copy only |
| Location | International (including Channel Islands and Ireland), Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England |
| UCAS points | No UCAS points available |
| Available on Equitas | No |
| Pathway | Independent Living |
Who is Transforming Aspirations for?
Transforming Aspirations has been developed to meet the needs of learners aged 14–16 with SLD (severe learning difficulties) or MLD (moderate learning difficulties) including young autistic people, who are likely to be on a semi-formal curriculum.
Learner registration and certification
Centres will need to purchase a Transforming Aspirations learner registration for each learner.
A learner registration includes a hard copy or electronic copy of a learner record.
A pathway progress tracker is provided in the learner record and an online learner progress tracker is available for centres to enter which pathways a learner has completed to demonstrate progress and reward small steps of achievement.
- Five certificates available in total (one for completion of each of the four pathways and one for completion of the full course).
- An ASDAN printed, embossed certificate can be requested to mark the completion of a full course. The four pathway certificates can be downloaded from the ASDAN website.
Learner record
The learner record contains the course content, each pathway contains 12 subject areas.
A pathway reflection at the end of each pathway allows for learners to say or show what they can do and decide for themselves and what activities they would like to try and be able to do on their own.
The learner record and recording templates can be completed by learner, or by the teacher/tutor on behalf of the learner, using words, symbols or pictures.
Tutor guidance
Tutor guidance for Transforming Aspirations is available to download under Course Resources below.
Person-centred planning toolkit
The person-centred planning toolkit can be used across all four My Independence programmes, it contains person-centred planning tools that can be used to support the development of Education, Health and Care Plans and SEND Support Plans.
Getting started
New to ASDAN?
Your first step is to become a member of ASDAN. Read more about our membership tiers and the benefits of being a member.
Already a member?
If you are on our Programmes Plus membership, you can get started by purchasing materials below. We highly recommend that someone from your centre attends one of our introductory training workshops or we also provide in-house training sessions.
You can upgrade your membership at any time under account settings.
ASDAN members' area
You can manage your courses, learners, orders and account settings in the members’ area. This also contains all the essential documents, forms and updates that you will need to deliver your course.
Training is available for new and existing members to help staff introduce My Independence into your centre.
The person-centred planning tools are a key component of all ASDAN’s My Independence courses. These will be provided to centres who attend training, as part of the My Independence tutor guidance and person-centred planning toolkit.
Please contact independentliving@asdan.org.uk for any My Independence curriculum queries
CPD meetings
My Independence will be supported by free to attend, annual professional development meetings (face to face and online).
These meetings will provide opportunities for ongoing development and training for centres, showcasing best practice, networking, collaboration and feedback on learner portfolios.
Become a member
Create a cohort
Once you are approved as an ASDAN member and have approval to deliver this course, you can create a cohort of learners in the members’ area. Specify a course coordinator, the expected completion date and the number of learners taking the course. Learners should be registered within 60 days of starting any ASDAN course and before any assessment takes place.
Resources
ASDAN provides a wide range of supporting resources, including course standards with guidance and assessment materials. All resources related to your course can be found on the course webpage.
Assessment
All ASDAN courses are assessed through portfolios or projects, instead of exams. Appropriate internal quality assurance (IQA) and external quality assurance (EQA) will take place according to the course and you will be guided on this by our team.
Professional development opportunities
Continued professional development (CPD) training opportunities are available for all ASDAN courses to support assessment and internal quality assurance (IQA).
Training is delivered by ASDAN experts, supporting your centre to run our courses successfully and develop and sustain expertise across your team. They provide an introduction to the course, along with guidance on processes, course delivery and moderation.
As an ASDAN member, you can also take part in ASDAN’s special interest groups. These are termly online sessions focusing on specific areas of practice, providing space for discussion, collaboration and networking between ASDAN members.
Costs
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Transforming Aspirations: learner registration (price per learner, includes learner record and certification) | £33 |
| Transforming Aspirations learner record (tutor copy) | £21 |
| My Independence learner evidence binder (with tabbed pathway dividers) | £8 + VAT |
| My Independence pathway stickers (pack of 120 stickers) | £6 + VAT |
Products can be purchased below.
