New centre for learners with profound & multiple learning difficulties

Leicester College has officially opened its new for learners with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD).

The £2.1 million centre was opened by Edward Timpson MP, Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Children and Families, on Monday 28 October 2013.

The purpose-built site at Leicester College’s Freeman’s Park campus replaces the former facility at Glenfrith Hospital.

The new Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties (PMLD) Centre includes a series of specialist learning spaces, including a performing arts classroom, art room, dining room, high specification sensory rooms and an external sensory garden.

The location of the new centre has enabled Leicester College to re-locate the centre from its Glenfield Hospital site in north Leicester to the Freemen’s Park Campus on Aylestone Road.

This is the first purpose-built premises of its kind at Leicester College thanks to a grant provided by Skills Funding Agency.
Programme Area Manager for Continuing Studies, Franki Williams said: “Our new centre offers specialist sensory rooms and learning environments which will enable learners with high support needs to access a person centred curriculum.”

“Our learners now have access to the full range of College facilities and their involvement in the College community will support inclusion for all learners.”

Verity Hancock, Principal at Leicester College, said: “This is a proud moment for the College. Our new centre provides a specialist provision for our PMLD learners and will continue to promote our strong inclusive links to specialist schools.
“We are aiming to provide the best learning environment for our current learners and for future generations of learners to come.”

“Targeted support, such as the services on offer here, are vital in helping these young people to become independent as they make the transition from school to college, and I look forward to hearing about your work over the coming months and years.”Edward Timpson, Minister for Children and Families, said: “Leicester College’s new specialist learning centre is a fantastic example of how mainstream colleges are coming up with ever new and innovative ways of helping young people with SEN realise their full potential.

Twenty-one full-time and 25 part-time learners aged 16 and over use the centre.

Jennie Johnson’s daughter, Rossie, 19, from Stoney Stanton, is among them.

She said: “It’s a super facility with a fantastic sense of space.
“The sensory rooms are her favourite place. Rossie enjoys being outside so she’s looking forward to using the sensory garden.”

Many learners require one-to-one support to assist them in communicating, feeding and administering medication. Staff work closely with health care professionals to follow individual care plans.
Learners, staff and governors were invited to celebrate the completion of the scheme on Monday.
Work on the former Action Deafness building at Leicester College started in September last year.

The building was designed by GSSArchitecture to suit the needs of learners and includes a performing arts classroom, art, dining and sensory rooms and an external garden which, alongside plants, features tactile and water installations and coloured lights.