Devon Integration Support Services (formerly Devon Action) Step-UP Learners 2010-11

Accreditation and Certification through Personal Learning Programmes

John's Story

John*, aged 16, has been learning with DISS for several months.  He has dyslexia, and has difficulties with planning, organising and understanding. He was excluded from school due to very low attendance, and he is easily distracted and has poor concentration.  He finds it difficult to work independently and requires a high level of guidance. 

John has achieved 100% attendance at DISS and has successfully completed NOCN Step UP units in First Aid, Cookery, Gardening Skills and Painting and Decorating.  He has also been exploring the natural environment on Dartmoor in Devon, learning map-reading skills, learning about flora and fauna and he even had a go at rock climbing.  John says “At first, I was really nervous, as I don’t like heights but after my first go I asked can I do it again, I really wanted to do it again!”.

He has also achieved a NOCN unit in ‘Developing a Personal Learning Programme’.  When he first came to DISS, in his own words, he was “really shy and didn’t want to do it” but now having completed NOCN Step Up units has “made me feel more confident – I can do anything now”.  John is now looking forward to starting at South Devon College in September.

Mark's Story

Mark*, aged 15, had a troubled childhood, living in South Africa, with limited education and time spent between both parents, in South Africa and England.

Amir's Story

Amir*, aged 16, came to Exeter two years ago, after walking all the way from Afghanistan, which took him a year.  He left his country suddenly at the age of 14 as his life was in danger. He eventually came to Exeter and is now an asylum seeker. When he arrived in England he knew only 4 words of English but now he is fluent.

Amir loves learning and has completed three NOCN Step-UP units with DISS, improving his numeracy, literacy and ICT skills.  He has also completed voluntary work with a local Oxfam charity shop dealing with their on-line sales, and he now attends Exeter College.

Amir has been learning English as a foreign student on a part time basis and was recently given an award for the most progressed student.  He has taken his Entry Level 3 exams and has applied to do a Business Studies course next year at Level 1.

Amir’s achievements are all the more remarkable considering he had no formal education in Afghanistan and was unable to write in Dari or Farsi when he arrived.  He is now able to write in Dari and English. He is very bright and really enjoyed the NOCN units he completed at DISS. In the words of teaching staff “he picked it all up like a sponge” and is now working towards doing a GCSE in Maths.

^{*Names have been changed to protect the learners’ identities}

For more information on Devon Integration Support Services please visit the DISS website or contact them on 01392 462675, or by email.

For more information on Step-UP and other NOCN qualifications visit our Courses and Qualifications section, or contact your OCNSWR Development Manager.