Loppington House FE Unit

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Description of the provider

1. Loppington House is privately owned and situated in a rural area of North Shropshire. It was bought by Active Care Partnerships Ltd, a specialist division of Southern Cross Health Care, at the end of October 2007.

Active Care have 44 other sites, mainly for adults with learning difficulties. Loppington opened in 1983 as a further education unit for learners between 16 and 25 years of age. Since 1986, long term residential facilities have been provided in the grounds of Loppington House and in local villages.

All of the long term residents have been learners in the education facility. From 2004, the education centre has offered places to learners between the ages of 19 and 25 ...years. There are 12 learners funded by the LSC, nine of whom are male and one who attends on a daily basis.

There is one learner of ethnic minority heritage. 2. The full-time further education (FE) curriculum includes gardening, life skills, arts and crafts, and a projects department.

The college has a new extensive range of facilities in Ellesmere and links with a local further education college. The curriculum provides opportunities to develop skills in independent living, accessing the community, enterprise activities and leisure activities, including horse riding and swimming, and a range of practical activities to develop skills, including confidence, concentration, fine and gross motor skills. Learners' literacy, numeracy and communication skills are developed throughout the curriculum.

The college was last inspected in March 2007 and found to be inadequate overall. The mission for Loppington House is to 'provide a supportive environment that creates opportunities for learning and personal development. This enables our students to engage in further learning, employment and to actively contribute to the community'.