Independent Living Skills

About these courses

Our Independent Living Skills courses support you to develop skills for your future. We focus on building your communication, employability and independent living skills. We also develop your awareness of health, wellbeing and the local community.

You follow one of two pathways (Pathway 2 or Pathway 3), that best supports you and helps you meet your goals.

Pathway 2 courses: are for learners likely to lead semi-independent lives and progress to playing an active part in the community and voluntary work. Pathway 2 Courses include:

Towards Independence
Work and Life Skills

Pathway 3 courses are for learners who are likely to live independent lives with some support, and could progress to supported employment, or achieve employment without support. Pathway 3 courses include:

Skills for Progression
Pre-supported Internships

Who are these courses for
Learners on Independent Living Skills courses typically progress from specialist schools and specialist resource bases and should have an IDP (Individual Development Plan) or equivalent statutory document.

What will you learn

All learners on our ILS programmes will work towards individual targets. Each learner will take part in activities and projects related to their targets that focus on independent living skills, community, health and well-being and employability. These take place in the classroom, in CAVC’s sector leading facilities and within the community.

Staff will support learners to record their individual progress throughout their time on the course, and at the end of the year learner progress will be celebrated with an awards ceremony.

Joining the course

How do you apply for these courses?

At the top of the page there is the option to choose to study at Cardiff or Barry, please select the campus you would like to study at and click the pink Apply Now and fill out our online form.
Once you have applied you will be invited in for an Experience Day, where you will meet tutors and other new learners.
After the experience day, the team will be in contact with you about next steps.

Important points

The College welcomes contact with parents/guardians of students who are under 18.
Additional support is available for students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Cardiff and Vale College is committed to inclusion and values diversity. We are determined to promote equality of opportunity and to treat everyone fairly and with respect.
Cardiff and Vale College reserves the right to make changes to this course without prior notice.
Course fees are subject to change. Your fee will be confirmed prior to enrolment.
All courses are accurate at the time of upload or print.
Courses can only run if there are sufficient numbers.
Please note, if you choose three or more course choices, then you may be referred for a careers appointment first. This does not apply to A Level or GCSE choices.

Key information

Start date

1 September 2025

End date

31 July 2026

Time of day

Day Time

Location

Barry Campus

Maps & directions

Course code

FLWLCRHO

EL2

Qualification

Work and Life Parent Code (Barry)

Your CAVC

Our support for learners at CAVC has beenawarded the best in the UK! (TES Awards, 2022). We have specialist teachers and a dedicated ALN team, with experts in many areas, all to support your time at college and your future. Our Transition Officers can work with you tosupport your move to college and make sure you have everything in place to start with us. Find out more or get in touch with one of our team atcavc.ac.uk/support. And our students take part in visits, trips orinclusive skills competitions to widen skills, experiences and confidenceduring the course.

#Your Future

Our Independent Living Skills courses help you build essential life skills and prepare you for potential future employment. When you leave college, you’ll have a personalised learning record showcasing your progress. Your next steps will depend on your goals and aspirations, which could include further learning or supported employment. This could include a Supported Internship – a unique opportunity to work with an employer to provide a supportive experience to start your working life. Many students then secure a job with that employer or use the experience to gain work.

Supported Internship: On-SITE

I moved from school to college last year and it’s really helped my confidence. Both me and my parents were a bit nervous before I started the programme, but it’s been a great experience. I’ve been able to get to and from college easily, even with a long bus route. It’s allowed to get some work experience making and selling cakes on campus. This year we will be helping out at the Christmas Market in Cardiff and in the College’s coffee shop. There will be some more opportunities to help out on reception and in the HR department. After I finish, I’ll be looking to go onto a Supported Internship locally and get even more work experience.

Lili Rees

Work & Life Skills student, now on the Pre-Supported Internship Programme