Education and Services for People with Autism (ESPA) 

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     ESPA College

This Independent Specialist College provides residential and day educational places for young people between 16 and 25 years with an autism spectrum condition (ASC). The College is committed to providing high quality, autism specific education experience that prepares all students to maximise their potential for future life, well-being and work.

All students complete employability courses to prepare them for future work.
These courses are NOCN accredited Employability Awards and include:

·         Entry 3  Introduction to Career Progression
                        Introduction to Preparing for a Recruitment Interview
                        Developing Skills for Gaining Employment
                        Understanding a Work Experience Placement
                        Introduction to recognising Employment Opportunities

·         Level one            
                        Building a Personal Career Portfolio
                        Communication in the Workplace
                        Personal Career Planning
                        Preparation for Work
                        Preparing for Interviews
                        Problem Solving in the Workplace

These courses could be taught to other groups of people with ASC if commissioned.


Employers who have attended include:

o   Washington Wetland Centre
o   Bill Quay Community Farm
o   Bliss Ability Services
o   Hordon Nursery
o   Sainsbury's
o   Path Head Mill-Conservation
o   The Bunker-Music Studio
o   Sunderland Royal Hospital 
o   NE Sports
o   Morrison's

In addition to the wide variety of work placements offered internally, ESPA have a wide range of other partners. 
These include: 
All students have personalised programmes of study based upon their specific needs, interests and aspirations for their futures. Students achieve a wide range of accredited and non-accredited academic and vocational courses within ESPA College and in partnership with General Further Education Colleges throughout the North East.

Work placements are part of the educational programme. These are linked to each person's transition goal.
The College has a Work Placement Directory  and has a diverse range of placements.

The College offers regular training for employers to help raise awareness of ASC and to improve the outcomes for students on placements. Training is delivered by ESPA staff and the students themselves who share their personal experiences and talents (The Training and Awareness Group-TAG). 

o   South Tyneside College
o   Sunderland Royal Hospital (Micro-Biology Lab/Bio-Chemical Lab/Medical Devise Department/Pathology Department/Dr’s Office)
o   SCOPE Charity shop
o   ASDA
o   Minster Café
o   Emmerson’s Pet Shop
o   Sunderland Aircraft Museum
o   British Heart Foundation
o   Crook Hall
o   Sunderland Training and Education Farm
o   Bede College
o  Gill Bridge Police Station
o   Posh Pooches
o   Broadway House


o   Gosforth Middle School
o   IT@Westgate
o   Stephenson Railway Museum
o   Northern Stage
o   Your Choice Sandwich
o   John Marley Centre
o   People’s Theatre
o   Homebase
o   Out of this World
o   Newcastle College
o   Metro Radio Arena
o   Tesco
o   Wheatfield Court Care Home
o   Burn Park Outreach Project
All of these placements have helped educate employers and demonstrated the many assets people on the spectrum can bring into work environments.

Many College leavers have transitioned into Work based training, further or higher education, supported or open employment

See : www.espa.org.uk.  

Next : Other ESPA Support Options