Local MP Charlie Maynard visits Abingdon & Witney College's Access to Learning provision

Abingdon & Witney College was delighted to welcome local MP Charlie Maynard to its Witney campus on the 2nd of October, where he visited the College's Access to Learning provision to learn more about the specialist support available for young people with a wide range of educational needs and backgrounds.

Hosted by Head of Faculty for Access to Learning, Vicky Donnelly, and Deputy Principle, Jo Milsom, the visit began with a tour of the College's Pathways classes, including a sensory learning session, giving Mr Maynard the opportunity to see first-hand how learners with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) are supported to develop independence, confidence, employability skills and pathways into adulthood.

During the visit, staff showcased the College's highly specialised facilities, which support learners with profound and complex needs. Discussions focused on the College's role as a specialist provider, with staff highlighting that Abingdon & Witney College supports learners with some of the highest levels of need across the region and offers provision that is not widely available elsewhere.

Mr Maynard joined students from the Pathways Living Independently course for refreshments prepared by the students themselves, highlighting the breadth of learning opportunities available across the department. Discussions took place around the importance of travel training, transition support and the work undertaken by specialist staff, including speech and language therapists, to help learners achieve their individual goals.

The visit also showcased the College's wider Access to Learning offer, which supports young people at different stages of their educational journey. This includes the Gateway programme, designed for learners who have been out of formal education and need a supportive environment to re-engage with learning, and Fast Forward, a one-year transitional course that helps students build the skills, confidence and qualifications needed to progress onto vocational study.

Mr Maynard met learners from Gateway, hearing directly about their experiences and how their time at college has helped them overcome barriers and prepare for their next steps.

One Gateway student reflected on the difference college had made to their experience of education, saying:

"The teachers feel really different for me. You get a lot more one-to-one attention, so it's easier to follow along. I often felt a lot of judgement at school but you get so much support from everybody. It just feels like you can be who you want to be."

Another student spoke about the importance of transition support when starting college, saying:

"The induction was really helpful for me because I felt like I knew someone from my first day at college."

Alongside seeing the facilities and meeting students, discussions explored challenges facing specialist further education providers, including funding pressures, local and regional SEND sufficiency planning, and the growing demand for specialist provision. Staff highlighted the importance of ensuring young people can access the right support, even where this may mean travelling further to reach specialist education settings. Conversations also covered the transition process for learners with EHCPs and the importance of effective collaboration between schools, colleges, families and local authorities to ensure positive outcomes for young people.

A key focus of the visit was the College's commitment to inclusive education and ensuring every learner has the opportunity to achieve their ambitions. Alongside specialist programmes such as Pathways, the College also provides dedicated autism support through FEAST (Further Education Autism Specialist Team), helping students with autism manage challenges and thrive during their time at college.

Principal and Deputy Principal, Jo Milsom, said:

"We were delighted to welcome Charlie to our Witney campus and showcase the incredible work taking place within Access to Learning. Our staff are passionate about helping every learner succeed, and it was wonderful to share the many ways we support students to develop the skills, confidence and independence needed for their futures.

I think it's really important that young people take the time to explore their options after GCSEs. There's a whole range of opportunities available at the College. I'd encourage young people and their families to come along to our open days, find out what's on offer, and see which route is right for them."

Following the visit, Mr Maynard praised the College's inclusive approach and the breadth of opportunities available to young people across the region, saying:

"It was wonderful to meet Jo and Vicky at Abingdon and Witney College today and see first-hand the incredible range of opportunities available to young people. For 15 and 16-year-olds thinking about their next steps, I would encourage you to attend an open day, speak to staff and students, and explore the wide variety of courses on offer. Taking the time to visit can help you discover options you may not have considered and make an informed choice about your future."

The College values opportunities to engage with local representatives and raise awareness of the vital role specialist further education provision plays in helping young people achieve their potential.