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Study Plus - giving you the freedom and tools you need to make decisions about your future

Published Tuesday 25 August 2020

If you're struggling with your education, not quite ready for college or perhaps unsure of the direction you are headed, Hertfordshire Step2Skills Adult learning and employment support may be able to help you.

HAFLS are offering young people aged 16 - 19 (or 20 - 24 with a current EHCP) who are not in education, employment or training a chance to enrol on to one of their free Study Plus courses.

Study Plus can help you gain the qualifications and skills needed to make decisions about your future.

Don't just take our word for it, listen to a Study Plus graduate talk about their experience and what they gained from enrolling on to a course.

(names have been changed in respect of confidentiality. 'XS' is a past student, aged 16 from Hertfordshire)

What were you doing before starting your Study Plus course?

XS: 'I hadn’t been in education since year 8, so really I was sitting at home not doing anything. I didn’t have any qualifications.'

What module benefited you the most?

XS: 'I think maths because I’d never liked it and was never good at it and was very low on skills. I was rebellious when I was younger and refused to do it. So when I came here, the way that they taught it, especially with functional skills, didn't downgrade anyone. They treated everyone the same...You come here and learn maths skills that you will genuinely use in real life.'

'When I first came here, I’d say things like ‘I’m stupid’, ‘don’t ask me this question’, ‘don’t point me out to do this because I’m an idiot.’ But then I learnt everyone has their own potential.'

'I have school phobia and anxiety but that never challenged me here. Before I came here, I didn’t really know how to make friends very well or talk to new people.'

'I came here and realised people can be accepting, they’re not as scary as they seem, and it’s ok to have a bad day...If people are considering they should 100% do it.'

What did the course teach you about yourself?

XS: 'That everyone is different, learns differently and has different abilities. Not everyone is intelligent in a book form - some people are more creative. Everyone has their own style of learning. I also learnt that I wasn’t stupid.'

An illustration of three friends putting their hands on one another's shoulders