I recently visited Ashley College: pioneering provision with excellent facilities for learners who need a different approach.

Ashley College is an alternative provision school in Wembley for Brent children and young people who are unable to attend a mainstream school due to their medical needs. It offers dedicated support for 20 learners, at any one time, and home tuition for those who are unable to leave their home.

They also provide learning opportunities for CNWL NHS Trust’s Crystal House, which is a specialist provider of assessment and treatment, for up to five young people with learning disabilities. As well as providing education for the young people, they also work closely with the clinical team to build the confidence to develop their daily living skills.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Cllr Ketan Sheth is pleased about the proposed changes Northwick Park Hospital are going are planning to makeCllr Ketan Sheth is pleased about the proposed changes Northwick Park Hospital are going are planning to make (Image: Cllr Ketan Sheth)

Many local authorities tend to meet their statutory duty with a few hours of home tuition per week for learners. But I was impressed with what I saw at Ashley College, considering the small, but resourceful team, who provide an excellent range of GCSE subjects as well as a wide range of other skills.

Sadly, provisions such as Ashley College are rare, however they do provide a critical and vital role in our community: they support children who may otherwise be ‘forgotten’. They provide our children with hope, a pathway to getting back on track, and the opportunity to develop in a supported environment and begin to see a future.

It seems right now more than ever that Ashley College’s motto, in the current climate, ‘Building confidence for the future’ is so fit for purpose, for all our children.

  • Cllr Ketan Sheth is chair, Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, Brent Council