Pathways: Junctions Level 1

Entry requirements

No formal requirements, but students will be interviewed to ensure that the course meets your needs. Most students will have a Statement of Educational Needs or an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).  

Course Overview

For students in Southampton and the New Forest unsure of what to do next and needing additional support, our Pathways: Junctions Level 1 covers a range of techniques and concepts. Taught by subject experts at Totton College, our course is designed to build confidence and self-esteem working towards life skills and the first steps of preparing for adulthood. 

Pathways: Junctions Level 1 is a specialised educational program designed to support students with ASD, ADHD, high anxiety, or low self-esteem. We support you in developing essential communication and life skills and work with you to give you knowledge and confidence in a wide range of areas such as:

• Digital skills  

• Money and budgeting  

• Healthy living  

• Teamwork  

• Being part of a community 

As part of your course, you will be offered a wide choice of enrichment programmes and encourage you to participate in work experience to build confidence and develop transferable skills for the workplace. If you make good progress, you’re encouraged to move forward to a mainstream course within the college in a subject of your choice.  

Our course is carefully crafted to empower you; you can achieve improved levels in English and Maths and gain Functional Skills and GCSE levels dependent on your ability. 

What will I learn?

Our Pathways: Junctions Level 1 course is based on the Nacro Education Get Set! framework, enabling you to gain critical skills and transferable skills that you need to progress onto your next step.  

Designed to support your learning and development, our course introduces a phased approach through module design. First focus on your personal development, confidence and self-esteem and then introducing you to the professional and transferable skills that will help you to progress with your future options.   

Work Experience

• Supported Internship student working on a paper 

• Participating in End of Year Fun Day. 

For each of the above events, you will complete a range of tasks for your portfolio including, planning documents, participating in the events, and leading reviews to identify future improvements for future events.   

Furthermore, as a student on Pathways: Junctions Level 1 at Totton College, you will have opportunities to participate in community projects, social and enterprise activities and various other enrichment projects.  

Modules

Modules for the Pathways: Junctions Level 1 course will include:  

Developing personal confidence and self-esteem: 

Throughout this module you will learn to recognise your strengths and abilities, fostering a positive self-image. Building your self-esteem will give you the confidence to tackle things you think may be out of your reach. You will learn how to develop strategies to manage stress and anxiety, promoting individual well-being, and enabling you to enhance your communication skills as you become more confident throughout the term.  

This module will help you with the following: 

• Understanding reasons for feeling confident and lacking confidence. 

• Understand effective participation in social situations.  

• Understand ways to manage stress. 

• Be able to set goals for personal development.  

Engage in discussion:

Throughout the term, you will participate in three discussions, one chosen by you, one discussion on climate change and one topic chosen at random. You will research and prepare for each discussion, helping you learn important talking and listening skills, and enabling you to articulate ideas clearly. You will learn to think critically by considering different points of view and making strong arguments to understand different perspectives. You will also enhance your research skills and how to construct your argument.   

This module will help you with the following: 

• Be able to engage in discussion  

• Be able to listen to others in a discussion  

Taking part in an activity:

Through this module, you will learn how to plan, participate and review activities, manage time, work as a team, problem-solve and further your communication skills. You will learn how to self-reflect on what went well and what areas you need to develop in preparation for future events. 

This module will help you with the following: 

• Be able to plan an activity.   

• Be able to participate in an activity. 

• Understand how to review an activity.

Assessment

At Totton College, we use a variety of assessment methods to ensure you achieve the Pathways: Junctions Level 1 qualification. 

Assessments on the course are conducted exclusively through coursework, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of your progress. Types of assessments include written assignments, presentations, posters, interviews, witness reports, and projects, such as enterprise projects. 

These are designed to measure various skills and competencies, including communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical application of knowledge. Additionally, our assessments will enable you to reflect on your learning and identify areas for improvement.  

Enrichment Opportunities

As part of the Nacro Education Get Set! framework, we encourage all students to engage in enrichment activities to support your learning. To support your confidence, during work experience week, we encourage you to participate in internal work placements. These are roles within Totton College and cover areas such as:  

• Administration. 

• Manual labour with Estates. 

• Any other internal activities suitable for work experience including the activities they participate in throughout the year.  

Throughout the year, you will be participating in some activities which will work towards building evidence for this module. Each student will prepare by completing the following:  

• Participating in the Christmas Fair. 

• Participating in Junctions Annual Cake Sale. 

• Participating in End of Year Fun Day. 

For each of the above events, you will complete a range of tasks for your portfolio including, planning documents, participating in the events, and leading reviews to identify future improvements for future events.   

Furthermore, as a student on Pathways: Junctions Level 1 at Totton College, you will have opportunities to participate in community projects, social and enterprise activities and various other enrichment projects.  

Career and Progression

After successfully passing this course, you will have the core knowledge and confidence to progress onto your next step. On successful completion of this course, you will achieve the Level 1 in Junctions. You will have many options available in terms of what you want to do next, these include further studies such as Pathways: Junctions Level 2, an apprenticeship, or entry-level employment. You may also progress to a mainstream course in a subject area that is of interest to you. 

On my course, I’ve gained important employability skills, such as CV and interview techniques, job hunting, and practical work experience. I enjoy volunteering at FareShare, where I get to help others. One of my proudest achievements was starting a Recycling Scheme to encourage people to recycle and reduce waste. My advice to new students is to push yourself and do something new you can enjoy. After completing my course, I hope to find a job I enjoy, Totton College has helped me build the foundation for my future career

Joshua Pascoe

Supported Internship student

Funding and bursaries

Students if you’re aged over 19 you may be eligible for free tuition depending on the course you want to study, your existing qualifications and your financial circumstances. For more information email info@totton.ac.uk or call 023 8087 4874.

Advanced Learner Loans are available for students who are aged 19 or over. Repayments do not begin until the course is completed and you are earning £25,000 or over. Eligible learners will be enrolling on a level 3 or above course and are a UK or EU national. For further information, visit gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan.

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