Kathleen Kay

Many Guild members will be aware of my involvement in teaching simple enamelling to teenagers with 'moderate learning difficulties', but may not know what these Supported Learning students are like.

Briefly, my students are aged between 16 and 23, coming to full-time college from mainstream or special schools. Some look like 'normal' students, except that their appearance may be somewhat tidier due to their being still under the influence of caring parents. Some may again look 'normal', but scruffier, coming from less caring, or even deprived homes. Other students may have obvious disabilities; strange expressions, mannerisms and behavioural problems that advertise the fact that they are different and in need of Supported Learning.

Some students have emotional problems, occasionally due to childhood mistreatment, beatings, sexual harassment or bullying. Some have mental or physical problems that are the result of illness or accident; others have lived with disabilities or abnormalities from birth.

The student group is an amazing mix of temperaments and abilities. Some students come to college to improve their academic skills in order that, after the usual three years with us, they may get, and hold, a job and lead a fairly normal life. Others will concentrate on social and life-skills, learning to communicate and get on with other students and staff.

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