College Principal: Funding Changes Can’t Affect Provision for Adults with Learning Difficulties

9/12/2011 6:19 AM EST

The principal of a leading Yorkshire college says access to courses for adults with learning difficulties must not be affected by funding changes.

Recent funding changes have altered the way potential new students are referred to Shipley College, the only college in the Aire Valley area to offer specialised courses for adults with learning difficulties.

And the college’s principal Nav Chohan said there were concerns that these changes would mean scores of adults each year could now miss out on vital college places that offer the chance to pick up a range of new life skills.

He said he was determined to make sure Shipley College built on its already-excellent reputation for supporting adults with learning difficulties through its suite of SLDD (Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities) courses.

“These courses offer an invaluable learning experience and support mechanism to scores of adults with learning difficulties. They are a chance to develop skills, make friends and to expand future options,” he said.

“The SLDD courses offer learners a chance to achieve things they perhaps never thought possible, and gives them a grounding in a number of core subjects.

“Funding changes may be altering the way a lot of people work and may mean we’re not getting as many referrals through in the same way as before, so we are determined to work twice as hard to ensure our SLDD courses continue to thrive.

“We are now exploring other methods of ensuring the word gets out about our courses to these groups, but in the meantime we have to work to ensure nobody slips through the net.”

Shipley College is enrolling now for adults aged 19 and over with learning difficulties. For more information contact Louise Brown on 01274 327 222 or email  .