Towards Independence

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About this course

Towards Independence

Towards Independence provides a framework of activities to develop and accredit personal, social, work-related and independent living skills.

Towards Independence offers formal recognition for small steps of achievement towards a larger goal. There are more than 70 modules, which can be used separately and accumulated to build a record of personal achievement.

Addressing SEND areas of need

ASDAN has produced a series of guidance documents showing how components of our programmes and qualifications can meet the four broad areas of need outlined in the SEND code of practice. Download our free guide to addressing SEND areas of need using Towards Independence.

Join ASDAN

To teach this course you must have one of these membership types:

  • Programmes Plus
  • Qualifications

Already a member? Sign in

Who is it for?

  • Learners aged 14+
  • Adult learners

Towards Independence can be used in schools, colleges, residential and day care services, local authorities and private provision.

Progression

For those seeking a qualification outcome, Towards Independence can be used to support the delivery of the Entry 1 qualifications in Personal Progress – download this mapping document for details.

There is also scope for progression through:

Modules

Towards Independence modules cover the following themes: 

  • Communication and numeracy
  • Creative studies
  • Cultural
  • Independent living
  • Leisure, recreation and sport
  • Personal development, PSHE and citizenship
  • Work-related
  • Modules particularly suitable for learners with PMLD

​There are more than 70 modules available; see the full list of Towards Independence modules.

Each learner will need their own copy of the relevant module book, which registered centres can purchased below. Sample pages from selected modules are available to download:


Requirements

The first module – Starting out – is mandatory. This module enables learners to be helped to recognise achievements and plan targets and challenges, which can then be developed through further modules.

Levels of support are used to show how the learner has achieved the activity. They show individual progression and differentiation between learners:

  • Experience recorded
  • Gestural help
  • No help
  • Physical help
  • Sensory experience
  • Spoken/signed help

Additionally, there is an opportunity to record students' achievements by allocating a P level or other descriptor to their work, as appropriate.

Supporting resources

A Towards Independence tutor guidance and resources folder is available to buy, which includes an overview of the programme, photocopiable resources, ideas for gathering evidence, and answers to frequently asked questions.

In addition, the module reference booklet contains the curriculum for every module and will help tutors plan which modules are most suitable for their learners.

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.

Certification

After students' work has been internally moderated, centres must register candidates for external moderation, which is carried out at a regional moderation meeting or by post. ASDAN will issue certificates following successful external moderation.

There is no minimum number of Towards Independence modules required for certification; centres may wish to have learners’ work moderated and certificated one module at a time or wait until they have completed several modules. Up to five module titles can be included on each TI certificate for each learner. If a learner is entered for more than five modules, they will receive more than one certificate and the centre will
be charged accordingly. 

1. Staff training

• The members of staff with overall responsibility for delivery must attend an ASDAN introductory workshop, webinar or INSET. Book at: asdan.org.uk/training
• Training to deliver Preparing for Adulthood courses is not a mandatory requirement, however it is highly recommended to ensure that the centre and learners obtain the maximum benefit from the programme.

2. Register with ASDAN

• You will need ASDAN Programmes Plus membership to deliver Preparing for Adulthood courses. Membership allows centres to purchase materials and access support, including regular mailings and updates.
• Become a member at: asdan.org.uk/membership or manage your existing membership at: asdan.org.uk/membership-details

3. Create a new cohort

• Create a new cohort using the ASDAN website: asdan.org.uk/member/cohorts
• Specify a course co-ordinator, the expected completion date and the number of learners taking the course. Select student books for your learners.

4. Purchase supporting resources

• Buy optional supporting resources. Available products are listed on this page. 

5. Delivery 

• Deliver the course to your learners. Resources can be downloaded from the course resources section on this page.

6. Internal moderation

• Internally moderate all portfolios to ensure that learners have met the full requirements of the course. Ensure learners are given time to make any necessary amendments. Internal moderation checklists are provided to support this process.

7. External moderation

• Book your moderation at: asdan.org.uk/member/moderations
• Confirm your learner names and details for moderation: asdan.org.uk/member/cohorts
• ASDAN will request a sample of portfolios for moderation, by post or at a regional meeting. Direct Certification Status (DCS) is also available to members who have had three successful moderations in the last three years. DCS is valid for two years.
• Certificates will be delivered to your centre within 20 working days of a successful moderation taking place.

If submitting portfolios for assessment at a regional moderation meeting, it is mandatory for at least one member of staff from the centre to attend the meeting. The member of staff attending will act as an independent moderator, undertaking moderation of other centres’ portfolios. This independent moderation will then be confirmed by an ASDAN external moderator.

Costs

All costs shown below are per learner, unless otherwise stated.
Books purchased for Towards Independence are valid for five years from the date of purchase.  

Item Price
Towards Independence Animal Care with horse riding and stable management (suitable for PMLD learners) £7.45
Towards Independence Baking: Introduction £7.45
Towards Independence Business Enterprise £7.45

Towards Independence Citizenship

£7.45

Towards Independence Communication skills: Sensory

£7.45

Towards Independence Coping with People

£7.45

Towards Independence Craft Making

£7.45

Towards Independence Current Affairs

£7.45

Towards Independence Developing Communication Skills: sensory (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence Engaging with the world around me: Events (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence Engaging with the world around me: Introduction

£7.45

Towards Independence Engaging with the world around me: Objects (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence Engaging with the world around me: People (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence Environment 

£7.45

Towards Independence E-safety

£7.45

Towards Independence Geography

£7.45

Towards Independence Getting to Know a Group

£7.45

Towards Independence Going to College 

£7.45

Towards Independence History

£7.45

Towards Independence Horticulture

£7.45

Towards Independence Independent Living: Introduction 

£7.45

Towards Independence Knowing About Myself

£7.45

Towards Independence Living Here

£7.45

Towards Independence Looking Smart: Introduction 

£7.45

Towards Independence Looking Smart: Sensory (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence Making Pictures

£7.45

Towards Independence Meal Preparation and Cooking: Sensory (suitable for PMLD learners) 

£7.45

Towards Independence Meal Preparation and Cooking: Sensory Experience

£7.45

Towards Independence Money: Introduction

£7.45

Towards Independence Money: Progression

£7.45

Towards Independence Multi-Sensory Experiences (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence Myself and Others

£7.45

Towards Independence Out in the Community

£7.45

Towards Independence Performing Arts

£7.45

Towards Independence Personal care routine: Sensory (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence Personal Safety 

£7.45

Towards Independence Photography/Multimedia

£7.45

Towards Independence Popular Culture

£7.45

Towards Independence Pottery and Ceramics

£7.45

Towards Independence Practical Workshop 

£7.45

Towards Independence Printing

£7.45

Towards Independence Relationships

£7.45

Towards Independence Residential Experience

£7.45

Towards Independence Self-Advocacy

£7.45

Towards Independence Sound, rhythm and music

£7.45

Towards Independence Sports studies

£6.50

Towards Independence Starting Out module and folder (mandatory)

£10.95

Towards Independence The wider world

£7.45

Towards Independence The world around us (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence Using IT

£7.45

Towards Independence Using leisure time

£7.45

Towards Independence Water skills

£7.45

Towards Independence Work awareness

£7.45

Towards Independence World of work: Care assistant

£7.45

Towards Independence World of work: Catering assistant

£7.45

Towards Independence World of work: Horticulture assistant

£7.45

Towards Independence World of work: Leisure assistant

£7.45

Towards Independence World of work: Office assistant

£7.45

Towards Independence World of work: Retail assistant

£7.45

Towards Independence World of work: Salon assistant 

£7.45

Towards Independence Yogacise

£7.45

Towards Independence: My future choices

£7.45

Towards Independence: Time management and self organisation

£7.45

Towards Independence: Using computer technology

£7.45

Towards Independence: Using transport

£7.45

Towards Independence Every Living (suitable for PMLD learners)

£7.45

Towards Independence module reference book

£47.90

Towards Independence tutor guidance and resources 

£49.95 +VAT

Postal moderation (on demand, per portfolio)

£45.00

Certification (up to five modules)

£6.45

All products can be purchased below.

Products

Course resources

Success stories

Achievements of adult learners captured in flexible programme

Social care provider Sense Scotland started delivering ASDAN’s Towards Independence to recognise and celebrate the skills and knowledge of learners aged 18 and over.

Learners develop business enterprise skills and enhance self-confidence

Girvan Opportunities Day Service in South Ayrshire provides a range of holistic and personalised learning opportunities to adults with learning disabilities. Students develop new skills with a view to achieving their own personal outcomes.
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