"Our reputation is determined by the quality of our work."

 Each participant will be individually assessed for this course. Where an EHCP is available, this will be used to enable us to support any special education needs (SEN) requirements. 

Learners will be allocated a keyworker and the pace of the activities will be adapted based on how the individual responds and how comfortable they are feeling. 

All sessions are pre-planned and linked to needs and personal targets. Targets are taken from the EHCP, their parent/carer and their keyworker’s observations. 

Transition will initially be spent in the Higher Farm Education yard with the animals to allow learners to settle in and engage in practical and social activities. 

Onsite at Higher Farm Education are a range of qualified teachers/assessors, SENCO, SEN experienced staff and industry-certified team members including: BHSQ Level 4 Senior Yard Manager BHS Level 4 Instructor and NVQ Level 4 Assessor Veterinary Clinicians Higher Farm Education also provide Animal Assisted interventions. 

These are goal orientated, one-to-one or small group activities that involve animals with education, social and well-being outcomes. Although not directly involved in the learning, Higher Farm Education also has access to an Educational Psychologist, Speech and Language Specialist and therapists. 

All of these professionals, situated on our unique setting, provide the foundation to nurture well-being, build trust and develop independence; providing a bespoke alternative provision designed to encourage participants to reach their potential, both socially and academically. 

There will also be visits from a Haddon Training Coach who will work with each of the learners on specific units and also support with gathering evidence towards the learner’s portfolio, prior to completing the coursework. The portfolio is then used for the final qualification assessment. 

 Delivery of the qualifications will depend on the learner’s needs and the individual learning plan from Higher Farm Education. This will include both practical and theory learning, and also incorporate the identified learning targets from the EHCP. 

As part of the teaching and learning sessions, the Trainer Coach from Haddon Training will also gather evidence towards a learner portfolio. This portfolio forms the basis for the overall assessment and subsequent certification of the qualification. The learner will produce evidence to complete every unit, ensuring that all the criteria are covered. 

• Knowledge evidence can be gathered in a variety of ways; the completion of accessible worksheets (visual and/or written), discussions with staff and other learners, voice recordings and Q&A sessions. 

• Skills evidence can be gathered through methods such as photos, videos, diary entries, observations, case studies and witness testimonies. 

These are just examples and evidence gathering can be tailored to individual learning needs. Once there is evidence to cover criteria for all the units, the portfolio of evidence is submitted to an Internal Quality Assessor (IQA) at Haddon Training for checking. 

Once the IQA is happy the portfolio meets all criteria to the required standard, the learner will then have successfully completed the course and be put forward for certification. Once the portfolio has been put through for claiming, it usually takes up to six weeks to receive the certificate from the awarding body (City and Guilds). 

All learning, both practical and theoretical will be face-to-face and onsite, based at Higher Farm Education: Higher Farm Education, Stocks Lane, Over Peover, Nr Knutsford, WA16 8BF.

 The provision will be timetabled according to need and the course will be delivered over 2 – 5 days per week, with flexibility through Monday – Friday, depending on the learner. 

Individual days may be available to meet particular needs. The days will run from 10am – 2pm with half an hour’s lunch break. 

Qualifications will follow the term-time dates of Cheshire East Local Authority’s school holidays and will last approximately one academic year 

A day on the course will usually consist of: 

• Time spent in the Higher Farm Education yard with the animals to allow learners to settle in and engage in practical and social activities. 
• Learners will spend time in a range of specially adapted learning environments; appropriate for the learner. 
• A half an hour lunch break will be given and learners can spend this socialising in the designated areas. 
• Opportunities to complete coursework with theoretical units. There is also the flexibility to complete practical units on the yard. 

All sessions will be in small groups with a high ratio of staff, or one-to-one support if applicable, depending on the learner’s needs. Activities planned for the learner throughout the day will always be individualised 

Based in over 100 acres of Cheshire countryside, Higher Farm is home to Higher Farm Education. Facilities on site include: 

• Purpose built learning environments designed and specially adapted with practical teaching aids. 
• A Café which overlooks the Higher Farm Events Arena.
• Disabled access toilets and shower access. 
• Indoor and Outdoor learning areas. 
• Extensive farmland utilised for practical activities. 
• Riding school
• Events Arena.  
• Woodland and Activity Centre

These qualifications can be funded either: 

• Privately – self-funded, funded by a parent or carer, funded by an employer, etc. Prices are available on application to Higher Farm Education and include training, assessment and daily placement fees. 

• Through a local authority – no cost is incurred by the learner. This is normally available for those with a case worker with the local authority (LA) that is able to access alternative funding for education. 

Often these individuals will have an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP). For Higher Farm Education the local authorities that could cover this course are: 

• Cheshire East 
• Cheshire West 
• Wirral 
• Halton 
• Liverpool 
• Warrington 
• Stockport 
• Manchester 
• St. Helens 
• Lancashire 

If the learner is being funded through the LA, then it is important to note that they will hold, maintain and return the individualised learner record (ILR). The ILR is a confidential government funding record. Haddon Training and Higher Farm Education are paid to deliver the training and assess and not to maintain the ILR for learners funded through a local authority. 

Due to the countryside location of Higher Farm Education, public transport is limited; private transportation is advised and is usually provided for learners with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) through the local authority if needed. 

The local authority states that “A child with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND) will also be provided with travel assistance where it is identified that they are unable to safely walk the journey to and from school (accompanied where a parent/carer would normally be expected to do so) due to their SEND needs even if distance criteria are not met. ” 

This support will need to be directly requested by the learner or their parent/carer with the local authorities’ transport department. 

For Cheshire East, these are: educationtravelpolicies@cheshireeast.gov.uk SENDtransport@cheshireeast.gov.uk 

For Cheshire West, this is: schooltransportenquiries@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk 

Other Local Authorities transport contact details are available online on the Local Authorities ‘Local Offer’ website. 

 Once an individual has enquired, a meet & greet visit will be arranged with the learner (alongside their parent and/or carer if applicable). Higher Farm Education will need to decide if this course can suitably meet their educational needs. 

The next step will be for the learner or their parent/carer to contact the local authority and their Education, Health and Care Coordinator to state a preference for Higher Farm Education and Haddon Training as their chosen education provision. 

The local authority will then request joint consultation paperwork from Higher Farm Education and Haddon Training with costings, which once received by them will then be reviewed by the local authority panel. Once agreed, further information will be provided to the learner regarding start dates. 

 To arrange a visit to Higher Farm Education and have a meet & greet with the team to see if the programme is suitable, please get in contact using the information below: 

Email: enquiries@higherfarmeducation.co.uk Phone: 01477 769769 

The meet & greet sessions will be held at a suitable time for the learner, their parent and/or carer if applicable and Higher Farm Education. 

Visits from schools, educational institutes and local authorities are also welcome.