Our Courses
There is a significant lack of suitable work focussed provision for young adults with Special Educational Needs (SEN) in West Dorset and is one of the key challenges faced by schools. When available, placements do not always provide sufficient opportunities and challenges or are conversely too challenging and can stress students. Skills Ability Weymouth is a new mixed work and education facility in central Weymouth that overcomes many of these barriers.
Skills Ability Weymouth offers courses that centre around young people with SEN gaining employment, working through stages that build skills and experience towards being ready for work and living independently. The current picture shows that one in four people have a disability; only 4.8% of adults with a learning disability are in paid work but 86% people with a learning disability who are not in work would like to be - at Skills Ability Weymouth our aim is to improve this picture.
Real Training and Experience
Hands-on activities mapped to individual skill plans that prepare you for work placements across West Dorset
Inspiring Facilities
Professional Kitchen, Workshop, Café, Shop, Propagation Room, Exercise and Wellness Room and Classrooms
Skills for Citizenship
Qualification:
NOCN Entry Level 2 Employability Skills
Workplace Skills:
Preparing for Work; Health and Safety;
Food Awareness;
Communication;
Measure – Time and Temperature.
Academic Skills:
Maths and English;
Personal Skills:
Safeguarding and Prevent;
Applying for jobs;
Independent Living;
Health and Wellbeing;
Travel Training.
Work Experience:
In Centre;
Local to home settings.
Skills for Independence
Qualification:
NOCN Entry Level 1 Employability Skills
Workplace Skills:
Skills for Employability;
Health and Safety in the Kitchen;
Serving Food and Drink;
Communication;
Measure – Weight;
Money – Add and Subtract.
Academic Skills:
Maths and English;
Personal Skills:
Safeguarding and Prevent;
Applying for jobs;
Interview Techniques;
Independent Living;
Health and Wellbeing;
Travel Training.
Work Experience:
In Centre;
Local to home settings.
Skills for Employability
Qualification:
NOCN Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development (Level 1)
Workplace Skills:
Preparing for Work; Health and Safety and Food Awareness in Catering;
Food Service;
Communication;
Measure – Time and Temperature.
Academic Skills:
Maths and English;
Personal Skills:
Safeguarding and Prevent;
Applying for jobs;
Interview Techniques;
Independent Living;
Health and Wellbeing;
Travel Training.
Work Experience:
In Centre;
Local to home settings.
Supported Internship
Qualification:
NOCN Skills for Employment, Training and Personal Development (Level 2)
Workplace Skills:
Personal Confidence and Self Awareness; Customer Service Skills;
Solving Problems in the Workplace;
Speaking and Listening Skills for the Workplace.
Academic Skills:
Maths and English;
Personal Skills:
Safeguarding and Prevent;
Job Search and Applications;
Interview Techniques;
Independent Living;
Health and Wellbeing;
Travel Training.
Work Experience:
In Placement;
Local to home settings.
What can you expect at
Skills Ability Weymouth?
Facilities
All students will get to work in all areas of Skills Ability Weymouth, including in our community café and shop, Sea-Saw.
The Main Workshop
Working in our professional kitchen you will learn to cook hot food for the public, staff and students, preparing drinks and serving at tables giving you a great opportunity to gain real-life skills for catering, waiting and retail.
Teaching Spaces
The aim of Skills Ability Weymouth is that the majority of key skills in english, maths and Enterprise are learnt as part of the wider work experience programme and not confined to the classroom. However, we do have some great teaching spaces that will be used to teach skills not covered in the work roles.
Sea-Saw Community Café and Shop
The main workshop is the heart of Skills Ability Weymouth and where arts, crafts and enterprise activities take place. Here you will undertake a wide activities and create items for sale in the Sea-Saw shop. This space also doubles as our cinema and performance space.
Plant Nursery
In our Plant Nursery we will agree as a team which plants we will start to grow on site. When they're ready we will take them to Tumbledown Farm to grow on in the poly-tunnels. When they are ready to harvest we will bring them back to Centre so that we can use them as ingredients in our homemade lunches and sell in our Community Shop.
Gymnasium and Wellbeing Room
We take the health and wellbeing of our team very seriously at Skills Ability Weymouth. With our large wellbeing room on the first floor and the beach just around the corner we will have at least one hour a day dedicated to looking after ourselves both physically and mentally.
Common Questions
Who can join?
Students aged 16-25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) who are keen to develop the skills required to live independently and work towards getting a job.
What support is offered?
Staff provide guidance and a safe space for learning and customer interaction , building the skills and confidence required to succeed in looking for and getting a job.
How is progress tracked?
Activities align with individual skill plans and complement local work experience. These will be evidenced to give you a range of useful qualifications to prove you are ready to work.
Is work experience included?
Yes, students gain hands-on experience in a supportive environment that builds towards supported internship placements with local employers
Where is the centre located?
We are in the centre of Weymouth, opposite the train station and a short walking distance from the bus stops at King's Statue. The Number 1 bus from Portland stops 100 yards from the building.
How does this help future employment?
By building skills and confidence, students are better prepared for other placements at local employers and will get to meet them at Skills Ability Weymouth on our regular charity Burger Nights.
When can I start?
The Centre opens in September with our first students starting that month. We will have start dates every term with further intakes planned for 2027 in January and April.
