Creating brighter futures

In January, Weston College – one of three National Centre for Excellence in Special Educational Need and Disabilities (SEND), is launching a FREE Understanding Autism course.

The 10-week virtual course is an opportunity to empower parents and carers of children and young people on the autism spectrum. Commencing on January 17th and taking place on the 10 following Wednesdays, this course aims to foster a supportive community and equip participants with valuable insights into autism.

The course is designed to be accessible for as many people as possible, with two different time slots (10am-12pm or 6pm-8pm) offering flexibility to accommodate busy schedules.

There are several key topics, which will be covered during the course:

Comprehensive Understanding of Autism

Delve into the fundamentals of autism, gaining insights into its nature, characteristics, and the diverse spectrum it encompasses.

Communication Difficulties

Explore effective communication strategies tailored for individuals on the autism spectrum, promoting better interaction and understanding.

Sensory Issues

Develop an understanding of sensory sensitivities and learn practical approaches to navigate and support individuals with sensory challenges.

Collaborating with Professionals

Gain valuable tips on effective collaboration with professionals, ensuring a holistic support network for autistic individuals.

Legislation and Rights

Navigate the legal landscape surrounding autism, empowering participants with knowledge about relevant legislation and the rights of individuals with autism.

Community Engagement

This virtual course serves as a platform for parents and carers to come together, fostering a sense of community and shared experience. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions, share best practices, and build a supportive network. The course is not just about learning but about connecting with others who share similar journeys.

If you are interested in this course, please email lucy.behan@weston.ac.uk.

Our incredible Level 3 Performing Arts students showed off their talents at the Wintertainment Showcase!

The Wintertainment Showcase is a variety show, allowing Performing Arts learners from all three pathways of Dance, Musical Theatre and Acting to put all the hard work they have done on display. Learners have been practicing and preparing for the Wintertainment Showcase for weeks, fine tuning their performances and honing their skills to be the best they can be.  

Direction and choreography were in the hands of our fantastic lecturers; Joe, Fiona, Lisa and Marjory. Some students went one step further however, choreographing their own impressive performances. 

Our Dance students wowed audiences, demonstrating a wide range of styles. These were swing, jazz, contemporary and commercial. The clear favourite, however, was a dazzling performance of "Backstage Romance" from Moulin Rouge the musical. Acting students were also on top form, performing monologues from a variety of plays as well as a group piece from a play called "Metamorphosis". Musical theatre students rounded out the variety perfectly, with a blend of solo songs and monologues. The highlight of the Musical Theatre performers however were the excerpts from "Fame", "Come From Away" and "Need A Little Christmas". 

All of the effort and hard work clearly paid off for the learners as the feedback they received was outstanding. Friends and family watched with pride and congratulated the learners on an excellent show. Lecturers were also incredibly impressed with lecturer Joe saying this: “The Level 3 Performing Arts Wintertainment Showcase was a huge success, showing our incredibly talented students in this wonderful variety show. They have progressed and developed their skills in confidence, professionalism and skills which has prepared them for our end of year full scale musical and play at the end of the academic year. I am extremely proud of each and every one of them!” 

The performance had a strong impact, teaching learners about how a professional show is put together. Learners were able to boost their own vital industry skills including working with headset microphones, understanding lighting cues and learning to work together as a large cast of performers for a live audience. 

This incredible showcase forms part of the Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields. 

Congratulations to everyone on a fantastic show!  

To find out more about our performing arts courses, click here!