My Independence: Realising Aspirations
About this course
What is Realising Aspirations?
The Realising Aspirations course aims to better prepare young people working at Entry level for good life outcomes.
Realising Aspirations has been developed around the four preparing for adulthood pathways, each pathway comprises three modules:
- friends, relationships and community
- employment
- good health
- independent living
The module outcomes are based on what needs to be in place for a young person to plan for the future and make a successful transition to new opportunities at college, in the community, on training programmes, employment or in supported living.
Realising Aspirations aims to promote inclusion, extend and develop learning opportunities beyond school or college, and provide good plans for the support required to make this a reality.
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+, 14–16, 14–25, 16+, 16–19, 19+, Adults |
| Level (indicative for non-regulated courses) | Entry level |
| Key Stage | Key Stage 4, Key Stage 5 |
| Education setting | Special school, Further education, Community Education, EOTAS, Academy / Multi-academy trust, Training provider, Adult education, Independent school, Secondary |
| Regulated | Non-regulated course |
| Certification | Externally certificated, hard-copy only |
| Location | England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, International (including Channel Islands and Ireland) |
| UCAS points | No UCAS points available |
| Available on Equitas | No |
| Pathway | Independent Living |
Who is Realising Aspirations for?
Realising Aspirations has been developed to meet the needs of learners aged 14+ with SLD (severe learning difficulties), MLD (moderate learning difficulties), LDD (learning difficulties and disabilities).
Learner registration and certification
Centres will need to purchase a Realising Aspirations learner registration for each learner.
A learner registration includes a hard copy or electronic copy of three learner records (additional learner records can be purchased online as and when required).
A progress tracker is provided in each learner record and an online learner progress tracker is available for centres to enter which modules and pathways a learner has completed to demonstrate progress and reward small steps of achievement.
- 17 certificates available in total (one for completion of each of the twelve modules, 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 records
A learner record is available to support each of the twelve modules. These resources include the module content, as well as the recording templates for each module. They are designed to form part of the learner’s portfolio of evidence.
The learner records and module templates can be completed by learners, or by the teacher/tutor on behalf of the learner, using words, symbols or pictures.
Tutor guidance
A comprehensive tutor guidance and resources pack has been created to support Realising Aspirations. This pack is essential for centres delivering this course as it contains many of the required resources ie pathway profiles, module completion log and module review.
An electronic copy of the pack will be made available once a centre has purchased a hard copy.
This pack is a one-time purchase that will be continually reviewed and updated and these updates will be provided as part of your ASDAN membership.
Centres can combine modules from Realising Aspirations and Supporting Aspirations to meet individual needs
Person-centred planning toolkit
The person-centred planning toolkitcan 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.
Become a member
Your organisation must be an ASDAN member to deliver this programme.
Our team will discuss your learners’ needs, intended delivery and approval requirements with you.
Create a cohort
Once your organisation is approved, create a learner cohort through the members’ area.
Provide the course coordinator’s details, expected completion date and number of learners. Learners should be registered within 60 days of starting and before 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.
ASDAN training supports staff to introduce and deliver My Independence successfully. It provides guidance on programme selection, person-centred planning, delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance.
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.
Training is included as part of ASDAN membership for organisations joining or renewing after 1 April 2026, excluding tailored INSET.
Please contact independentliving@asdan.org.uk for any My Independence curriculum queries
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Realising Aspirations: learner registration (price per learner, includes three learner records and certification) | £34 |
| Realising Aspirations: additional three modules per learner, including learners records and certification, (one pathway or a combination) | £26 |
| Realising Aspirations: additional modules including learner record and certification | £9 |
| Realising Aspirations: tutor guidance and resources (full) | £310 +VAT |
| Realising Aspirations: tutor guidance and resources (per pathway) | £84 +VAT |
| Realising Aspirations learner record: all modules (tutor copy) | £88 +VAT |
| Realising Aspirations learner record: per pathway (tutor copy) | £24 +VAT |
| My Independence learner evidence binder (with tabbed pathway dividers) | £8 +VAT |
| My Independence pathway stickers (pack of 120 stickers) | £6 +VAT |
Tutor copies of the learner records can be purchased in the products section below.
Learner registrations must be purchased as part of creating a cohort.
Products
Realising Aspirations learner record: all modules (tutor copy)
Buy hereRealising Aspirations learner record: Employment pathway (tutor copy)
Buy hereRealising Aspirations learner record: Friends, relationships and community pathway (tutor copy)
Buy hereRealising Aspirations learner record: Good health pathway (tutor copy)
Buy hereRealising Aspirations learner record: Independent living pathway (tutor copy)
Buy hereRealising Aspirations tutor guidance and resources: Employment
Buy hereRealising Aspirations tutor guidance and resources: Friends, relationships and community
Buy hereRealising Aspirations tutor guidance and resources: full
Buy hereRealising Aspirations tutor guidance and resources: Good health
Buy hereRealising Aspirations tutor guidance and resources: Independent living
Buy here