Education & Work Training

This is a practical session which involves different activities such as card making, painting and other art and craft activities.

In canvas art, we look at a broad range of different materials and techniques to produce art in different styles. We also use different printing techniques like screen print to produce work.

Over the past year, we have looked at a number of different art topics like pop art, abstract art and some of the most famous paintings in the world.

Learners are also producing art onto canvas which are sold and exhibited in and around Milton Keynes, helping raise awareness of people with learning disabilities and their talents.

Catering helps to promote independence and confidence in the kitchen. Learners will develop their understanding of basic food hygiene and H&S in the kitchen. Learners will plan, prepare and bake simple catering orders. This experience encourages communication, working as a team and valuable skills.

To teach learners about the skills needed to run a business and all the parts that this involves. Assembling and making products to sell by using their skills. These products could be creating canvas artwork to planting flowers for hanging baskets, whilst developing different skills needed to run an enterprise business.

The gardening sessions focus on developing the learners gardening skills and learning new ones in a relaxed friendly environment.

The learners are encouraged to choose what they would like to grow and sell. Group discussion and research are used to plan our planting schedule.

The learners are able to experience and enjoy working outside through each different season.

For the learners to get a better understanding of how to keep healthy and improve wellbeing. These sessions will focus on the learner’s personal health and wellbeing. Throughout the year learners will be learning about staying healthy and feelings. We know that to have a healthy body it is important to look after ourselves. This means doing active things, eating healthy foods and keeping clean.

Life skills sessions provide learners with the opportunity to develop various skills they will use throughout their day-to-day lives. These sessions involve learning about safety within the home and the community, dealing with emotions, healthy eating and independent living skills within the home such as housekeeping skills. As well as developing literacy, numeracy and ICT skills.

Milton Keynes College come into SNAP and run Animal Care, where learners find out the roles and responsible of caring and looking after an animal. MK College also offer an Employability Course where learners can learn develop skills needed in employment.

These sessions allow learners to express themselves through music, developing self-esteem, confidence and team work to improve wellbeing. Learners will have the opportunity to sing and dance to lots of different types of music, as well as learning and using different instruments.

To explore nature whilst visiting the Lakes and Parks in the area. To understand the seasonal changes and how this affects animals, plants and us. Developing a basic understanding of how to protect the environment, as well as improving our health and wellbeing.

Performing Arts sessions concentrate on the development of performance skills including acting, singing and movement. Learners plan, design and develop their own show for public performance at the end of the academic year.

A typical session starts with physical and vocal warm-ups and then concentrates on a specific performance theme. Learners have plenty of opportunity to practise skills and perform to the group. They finish the session with a recap of the learning they have achieved.

Learners also develop skills in communication, coordination, teamwork, decision making and recall.

Sport lessons provide learners with opportunities to develop lots of different skills. Learners will learn a variety of sports over a term and in recent years we have been fortunate to work with the following sporting partners:

• MK Dons SET
• Badminton England
• Bucks County Cricket
• MK Inclusive Tennis
• My Active Plan

Yoga lessons provide learners with opportunities to develop an awareness of the breath and deeper breathing . Including an introduction to correct postures which helps increase awareness and the ability to balance. Also posture correction will help increase strength in the legs and stretching the whole body. The session includes a focus on relaxation.

These sessions are delivered by Jill Fosters Dance Centre, offering a range of different dances from Latin to Disco. These sessions are a great way of losing weight, improving posture and muscle strength, increasing balance and coordination, as well as beating stress. Learners will also perform an end of year performance showing off what they have learnt.

Pottery has been designed to introduce learners to the basics of ceramics. This course will help develop a number of skills and techniques. Learners will learn how to throw pots on the potter’s wheel and learn decorative techniques as well as glazing.

Learners will learn how to sew using a basic set of stitches to achieve and create lots of different products such as bags and pillowcases which will be sold through the enterprise. The joy of sewing and constructing something with your hands never gets old.

These sessions are to develop and foster a greater understanding of work; learners will have to opportunity to undertake different jobs at MK SNAP, for example, reception, café and working on the enterprise stall. These sessions encourage communication, independence, working as a team and supporting them to take a step closer to employment.

For those learners who are not able to return immediately, we will continue to offer remote support and have a ‘Virtual Teaching Team’ that are delivering engaging and interactive workshops across the week. All SNAP Learners can access these sessions; please get in touch if you would like some support with this or need assistance with technology. The sessions are morning and afternoon each weekday and can be accessed via a PC, SMART phone or tablet.