NHS England Choices College Sheffield Doncaster

Next up, to add to the meet the team series is Natalie Ellis, Natalie is the Area Coordinator at Choices College Hartlepool. Natalie loves Spending time with her family, Hello Kitty, Books and Crystals.

More to follow.

Next up, to add to the meet the team series is Emily Childerstone, Emily is the Area Manager for South Tyneside at Choices College. Emily loves Red wine, being with her family, Holidays and keeps herself fit by running.

More to follow.

Next up, to add to the meet the team series is Sarah Tonnar, Sarah is the Regional Manager for Teesside and Yorkshire at Choices College. Sarah loves being with her family, Eating chocolate, reading and red wine.

More to follow.

Next up, to add to the meet the team series is Annette Lafitte, Annette is the Area Manager Choices College in West London. Annette loves Shopping online, colouring in and keeps herself fit going to the Gym

More to follow.

Next up, to add to the meet the team series is Alyson Goldwater, Aly is an Area Manager Choices College. Aly loves being with my family, Creating artwork and keeps herself fit by walking her miniature Dachsund "Peanut"

More to follow.

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Next up, to add to the meet the team series is Melanie Slater, Mel is the Area Manager for NHS England Choices College York. Mel loves Leeds Rhinos, red wine, French bulldogs and keeps herself fit by running & swimming.
More to follow.

Second to add to the meet the team series Steph Walker, Steph is the North Regional lead. Steph is a young 36, loves travelling in her campervan, enjoys the book club, keeps herself fit playing netball and has a heart of gold fostering guide dogs.

More to follow.

Here at Choices College we would like all to know who we are, so as part of the meet the team series, we are starting with Paul Thompson, Quality Assurance Coordinator. More to follow.

We are proud to share what we have recently achieved in our college, here is a brief overview of that.

https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/choices-college-supported-internships

Out and about and one of our sites today, only to find our interns selling the products they made in their Enterprise lessons. The interns were given the task of coming up with an idea that would make a good business idea, they had to work out the costs involved, selling prices, and potential profit.

As you can see from below they decided on making Tie/Dye bags, this wasn't just the act of dying them they had to be taken home to be ironed, (well done to the staff for doing that).

These young people have really enjoyed this process and it has opened their eyes, they are not always saying we can't do that, but quite the opposite of what can we do next. Hats off to the Choices College staff who have supported this in the Darlington cohort, you know who you are.

And obviously if you would like one of these bags you better be quick, they are going like hot cakes, any money raised will fund the next enterprise task.

At Choices College, every day is an opportunity to empower our SEND learners and light the path toward meaningful employment. This week, we’re shining a spotlight on our comprehensive initiatives that bridge education and the workplace for students with diverse needs.

We believe that every learner deserves a chance to contribute their unique talents. That’s why our dedicated team collaborates with local businesses, employment specialists, and industry partners to create tailored work readiness programs. From individualised career coaching and internships to mentorship opportunities and employment workshops, we ensure that our SEND students are equipped with not only academic knowledge but also the practical skills that build confidence and open doors to exciting career paths.

We’re proud of the daily impact our programs have—guiding each student through personalised learning journeys, celebrating their achievements, and preparing them to succeed beyond the classroom. Our commitment is clear: to turn potential into success by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive professionally.

Join us in celebrating the success of our SEND learners and the incredible partnerships that are making their transition into work a reality. Together, we're building futures where possibility meets opportunity.

Exciting news!

Our NHS England Choices College MR student has his first ever radio show launching this evening on Autism Awareness Day! 🥳

Please head to CVFM Radio https://www.cvfm.org.uk for 'Movie Mania' from 6pm today; featuring movie soundtrack tracks and news on all of the latest cinema releases - hosted by our supported intern!

We are incredibly proud of our student, not only for the creation of the show and the hard work he put into it, but also for the resilience he has shown to put himself out of his comfort zone and show the world what he can do! 🙌🏼

Please make sure you tune in at 6pm to show your support

National Autism Month:

Celebrating Neurodiversity at Choices College

April marks National Autism Month, a time to celebrate neurodiversity and raise awareness about autism, its challenges, and its extraordinary contributions to society. At Choices College, a specialist education provision with a supported internship program, we are proud to work alongside many autistic students who enrich our community with their unique perspectives, talents, and resilience.

As an institution dedicated to empowering students with diverse needs, our approach is founded on inclusivity, understanding, and tailored support. Choices College offers educational opportunities and practical internship experiences that help our autistic students thrive. By fostering environments where every learner feels valued and supported, we create pathways for success that embrace individuality and celebrate the strengths of neurodiverse minds.

Autism is a spectrum, and the experiences of autistic individuals are incredibly varied. At Choices College, we celebrate these differences by encouraging creativity, innovation, and the ability to think outside the box—traits that many of our autistic students embody. Through our supported internship program, we aim to bridge the gap between education and employment, equipping students with essential skills and confidence to pursue their dreams.

National Autism Month also reminds us of the importance of advocacy and inclusion. Autistic individuals often face barriers, misconceptions, and stereotypes that hinder their ability to reach their full potential. At Choices College, we strive to challenge these societal obstacles by fostering understanding and promoting equal opportunities. We call on employers, educators, and community leaders to join us in creating inclusive spaces in all its forms that embrace diversity.

This month, let us all take the time to listen, learn, and engage with the experiences of autistic individuals. By educating ourselves about autism and recognising its beauty and complexity, we contribute to a world that respects and celebrates neurodiversity. At Choices College, we are inspired by the courage and determination of our autistic students every day—and we are committed to advocating for their voices to be heard and their talents to be recognised.

Let’s honour National Autism Month by shining a spotlight on neurodiverse achievements and fostering a culture of acceptance and opportunity for all. Together, we can build a future where every individual, regardless of their differences, has the chance to thrive.

Today in Sheffield we enjoyed our second Keep in Touch Day with our new cohort. We got to know each other, had a walk through town and went to visit the setting for our education day. We are looking forward to meeting again in September.

Graduation 🥳

Yesterday in Sheffield we enjoyed our graduation. We celebrated with family, friends and mentors.

Well done to all our interns for their hard work over the last year and a huge thank you for the support from our mentors in placements.

Good luck for the transitions into paid employment and college to gain further qualifications. We are proud of you all.

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A beautiful setting for today’s job fair in the winter gardens.
We were there promoting Choices College as well as our interns exploring what opportunities there are in the NHS.

Some of our interns enjoyed a visit to the Youth Hub at Bramall Lane yesterday.
We discussed the help and support provided by the Youth Hub and the types of jobs the interns would like.
It’s great to know about services like this.

In class we enjoyed a visit from Sheffield City Trust Steve talked to us about health and fitness and the importance of physical and mental health and how they often overlap. We learnt how our hearts work, how to take our pulse and how it changes when we do exercise. It was a fun session and it made us think about how we fuel our bodies.

Today our interns enjoyed the experience of being filmed in their placements by a film crew. The footage is going towards a film about supported internships and it follows their journey throughout the course. We are excited to get the final copy so watch this space.

Snow Day ❄️☃️

Placements had to finish early today due to the weather.
What are you doing on the snow day?

Are you interested in joining a supported internship to gain valuable work experience?
Do you have an EHCP?
Do you want to get a job but need a little support to be work ready?
Come along to our event to find out more.

Happy New Year to all our interns and partners.

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We have finished for the Christmas holidays! 🌲

All our interns have worked so hard this first term and definitely deserve a break.

Wishing all our interns, their families and the fantastic staff from placements a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Today we had a fantastic social event. We went bowling, to the Christmas markets and played games.