Foundation Course in Personal Development

Many young people grow up in our community without basic Life Skills. This gap in their knowledge can lead to poor school attendance, poor social skills, inability to function in a traditional educational environment and eventually disengagement from learning.

The Foundation Course in Personal Development aims to develop some of these essential skills and provides students with learning for life. Being able to make informed decisions and appropriate choices helps students to re-engage in school, become more confident in their ability and better able to cope with the challenges in their life.

Group tasks re-inforce the learning

Course Duration

The course is 6 – 12 weeks in duration and students usually attend for half a day per week.

Group Size

The Group size will not exceed eight and is usually around six. There are always two Seeds of Change Staff on each programme – one with an equine qualification and the other with a coaching, counselling or teaching background.

Location

The programme will be run from the closest approved Riding School to the client ( usually no more than 30 mins distance).

Content:

Each week has a different learning outcome:

  • Understanding how our behaviour affects others
  • Building and maintaining healthy relationships
  • Teamwork and Communication
  • Resolving Conflict
  • Citizenship
  • Preparing for change

We work in the stables and in the Riding School, but there is a short time recording our work in the classroom at the start and finish of the day. All work with the horses is done on the ground until the last week.

A series of fun and practical tasks, build students confidence and equine knowledge.

Academic Outcomes:

There are a number of academic outcomes available:

  • Asdan Short Course Awards
  • AQA Personal Development / Grooming Awards
  • This programme can also be used as the start for City and Guilds Level 1 Certificate in Equine Skills or Employability and Personal Development.

Students who can benefit

  • Young people from 8 – 19
  • Young people working on Foundation Learning
  • Disengaged from mainstream school
  • Victims/ perpetrators of bullying
  • Anger issues
  • Poor confidence/ self esteem