Scotland's only complex needs college sees demand for services soar

Scotland’s first and only college for young adults with multiple and complex disabilities says they need more support to roll the model out across the country.

Corseford College in Renfrewshire welcomed its first students two years ago and has since seen demand for places soar.

The facility offers bespoke learning for 18 to 25-year-olds and features sensory suites, a specialist pool, rebound therapy using full-sized trampolines and outdoor learning spaces.

Sophie Rae has cerebral palsy and educational needs and will need full-time care throughout her life.

Since joining the college, she’s been able to access new technologies, which has allowed her to learn important skills for the future.

Her father, David, said he doesn’t think he would be able to access these resources without the support of the college.

Sophie, who has cerebral palsy, regularly attends the college STV News

He told STV News: “The key thing for Sophie is communication, if you’re close to Sophie and you know her she can communicate.

“She has her own methods of communications but they wouldn’t be easily recognised by somebody who doesn’t know her.

“The college has done some fantastic work with identifying technology that appropriate to Sophie and liaising with different entities that I don’t think I would have got access to without the lever of the college.”

The college is run by the charity Capability Scotland and is entering its third year of a pilot period.

It is aimed at school leavers with profound and complex physical and educational disabilities, giving them access to specialist facilities where they can continue to learn new skills and access technologies.

Bosses say half of pupils leaving Corseford will have the skills to go onto a mainstream college.

Other students will have the tools and abilities to lead a full life, with ongoing care and support.

Applications for a place at Corseford are coming from across Scotland and continue to be double the number of places available.

While the Scottish Government’s confirmed funding for another year, head of the college Liz McConnanachie is concerned about financing a future roll out.

She said: “I don’t think there is an understanding about what the educational aspects of this are and what they can achieve.

Students at Corseford College access new technology and learn life skills STV News

“I feel that we really need to look at this as education and include it within the national priorities within education, because it is education.

“And it shouldn’t really be funded as a pilot project. It’s not just a project.

“It’s not just a project – it needs to be funded and seen as a national priority for these youngsters leaving school.”

Across Scotland hundreds of people with disabilities leave school every year, including people like Finlay Sangster.

He has cerebral palsy and needs full time care for his physical needs.

While he was accepted onto a college course, he didn’t feel mainstream education could support his disability.

He wants to see more higher education centres offer facilities similar to Corseford.

He said: “There’s a real need for places like this because we want the same opportunities as our peers get.”

His mother Gail wants to see her son reach his full potential.

She added: “The special educational needs in schools, the numbers are rising every year so this isn’t going to go away.

“So, I think we need to start investing in colleges that see learning in a different way and I know education are very good at trying to adapt learning.

“There is this special educational college in Glasgow. Maybe we should be providing them further afield so everyone can access them and it’s not a postcode lottery.”

Corseford College's head of education Liz McConnachie — Corseford College’s head of education Liz McConnachie STV News

He has a place with Create Aberdeen. It is one of the few places he feels like all his needs are met.

Since the charity launched a decade ago, they’ve seen more families looking for post school support and have had to double the number of places in their transition from school group.

Maree Adams from the charity says families are struggling to find support.

She said: “I think families are quite fearful and don’t know where to go when the kids leave school.

“I don’t think there are a lot of resources out there. Because we see more and more school leavers looking to come to our services, it’s something we feel we need to grow because there is definitely a demand for it.”

The Scottish Government said: “We are committed to ensuring that young people with disabilities and those with a long-term medical condition or additional support needs are supported as they leave school towards further study.

“Over the past three years, more than £1m has been provided to Capability Scotland to support the Corseford pilot for young people with complex additional support needs, delivering bespoke learning, physical therapies and life-skills development.

“An independent evaluation of the pilot will allow us to explore a sustainable approach to specialist provision going forward.

“The Scottish Funding Council has updated its guidelines to emphasise student interests, access and success in all educational institutions.

“This new focus starts in 2024-25. By prioritising equality, diversity and inclusion, colleges and universities aim to create a more inclusive learning environment for all students.”