Living Independently Short Course
About this course
What is it?
The ASDAN Living Independently Short Course is focused on helping looked-after children make a successful transition from school education to adulthood. Developed in collaboration with local authorities, the course supports the cross-government strategy to transform support for young people leaving care – 'Keep on caring: supporting young people from care to independence'.
The flexibility of ASDAN's Short Courses means that they can be carried out in a variety of settings, over a time period to suit the individual or co-ordinating centre.
This Short Course can be completed using the student book or is available for learners to complete online through the ASDAN e-portfolio system. Learners log in to complete challenges, record skills development and upload evidence. Tutors can view learner progress and sign off work, leaving feedback as needed.
Free independent living resources
Download our free Living Independently Short Course resource pack, full of activity ideas and challenges to develop independent living skills in learners.
Join ASDAN
To teach this course you must have one of these membership types:
- Programmes
- Programmes Plus
- Qualifications
Already a member? Sign in
Who is it for?
Short Courses are widely used in formal and non-formal settings, by 13-19 year olds. Because they are multi-level, the focus is on completing challenges and skills development according to individual ability, although learners are expected to be working at Entry level 3 to Level 1.
Facts and Figures
- Flexible, multi-level programme
- Internally moderated
- Accredits 10-60 hours of activities
- Can count as up to 3 of the credits needed to achieve the Personal Development Programmes
- Can count as up to 6 of the credits needed to achieve Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE)
- Also offers progression to Award of Personal Effestiveness (AoPE) and Wider Key Skills
Requirements
Learners must present evidence of their activities in an organised portfolio or e-portfolio.
This will contain:
- a record of challenges completed, with supporting evidence for each challenge
- recording documents, showing how learners have planned and reviewed their activities
- summary of achievement, highlighting skills development
- personal statement
Course Content
The Living Independently Short Course contains nine modules:
- Earning and spending money
- Keeping track of your money
- Making financial choices
- A place of your own
- Health and wellbeing
- Cooking on a budget
- Practical cooking skills
- Career management
- Preparing for the world of work
Each learner will need their own copy of the Short Course student book or an e-portfolio login – this contains the challenge content and recording documents.
Download sample pages from the Living Independently Short Course student book.
Supporting Resources
A free set of downloadable tutor notes to support the Living Independently Short Course, containing guidance for each challenge and suggested resources, is available to centres registered for Short Courses in the members' area and in the course resources section below.
1. Staff training
• The members of staff with overall responsibility for delivery should attend an ASDAN introductory workshop, webinar or an INSET.
• Training to deliver Short Courses is not a mandatory requirement, however it is highly recommended to ensure that the centre and learners obtain the maximum benefit from the programme.
2. Register with ASDAN
• You will need to have ASDAN Programmes membership to deliver Short Courses. Membership allows centres to purchase materials and access support from ASDAN, including regular mailings and updates.
• Become a member at: asdan.org.uk/membership or manage your existing membership at: asdan.org.uk/membership-details
3. Create a new cohort
• Create a new cohort using the ASDAN website: asdan.org.uk/member/cohorts
• Specify a course co-ordinator, the expected completion date and the number of learners taking the course.
Either:
- Select student books for your learners.
- Or, assign tutors and generate login details for learners via the tutor portal: tutor.asdan.org.uk
4. Purchase supporting resources
• Buy optional supporting resources below.
5. Delivery
• Learners can log in to their e-portfolio at eportfolio.asdan.org.uk
• Deliver the course to your learners. Resources, such as skills sheets, can be accessed through the e-portfolio and downloaded from this page.
6. Internal moderation
• Internally moderate all e-portfolios to ensure that learners have met the full requirements of the course. Ensure learners are given time to make any necessary amendments. Internal moderation checklists are provided to support this process.
• While Short Courses are not externally moderated, ASDAN reserves the right to sample learners’ portfolios for quality assurance purposes.
7. Certification
• After successful internal moderation, confirm your learner names and details claim certificates via the tutor portal: tutor.asdan.org.uk
• Choose a free downloadable PDF certificate, or request printed and foiled certificates from ASDAN at an extra cost.
• Certificates will be posted to the Short Course co-ordinator for your centre within 20 days.
• If credits gained from a Short Course are being used towards another programme or qualification, you must ensure that both the Short Course certificate and the student’s portfolio are presented at external moderation.
ASDAN training events are delivered by experts to enable your centre to successfully run our courses. They provide an introduction to the course, along with guidance on the processes involved, course delivery and moderation.
Costs
All costs shown below are per candidate, unless otherwise stated. Each learner will need their own copy of the student book. Books or registrations purchased for Short Courses are valid for three years from the date of purchase.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Living Independently Short Course student book | £12 |
| Living Independently Short Course PDF certificate | Free |
| Living Independently Short Course printed and foiled certificate (optional, per learner, per Short Course) | £3.50 |
Products can be purchased below.
Products
Course resources
Living Independently Short Course - 4A2: Different types of landlord
This worksheet can be used to support challenge 4A2 of the Living Independently Short Course. Learners are asked to research key information about the different types of landlord.
Living Independently Short Course - 5A7: Ways to combat stress
This worksheet can be used to support challenge 5A7 of the Living Independently Short Course. Learners are asked to list three things that make them feel stressed and identify ways to combat this stress.
Living Independently Short Course - 6B1: Weekly meal planner and shopping list
This worksheet can be used to support challenge 6B1 of the Living Independently Short Course. Learners are asked to plan a two-week meal plan. This resource contains a weekly meal plan template and a shopping list template with room to include costs.
Living Independently Short Course - 8A5: Top 10 useful interview tips
This worksheet can be used to support challenge 8A5 of the Living Independently Short Course. Learners are asked to interview someone from a local business about interview skills and come up with a list of their top 10 interview tips.
Living Independently Short Course - 8A9: Top 10 useful interview tips
This worksheet can be used to support challenge 8A9 of the Living Independently Short Course. Learners are asked to identify key features and information on pay slips. This resource provides examples of two pay slips - one weekly and one monthly.
Living Independently Short Course - 9A1: The benefits of work experience
This mind map template can be used to support challenge 9A1 of the Living Independently Short Course. Learners are asked to identify the benefits of work experience.
Evaluation chart (individual)
This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week individual activity. Learners are asked to mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt; at the end of the project the learner should join up the marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Evaluation chart (group)
This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week group activity. Each member of the group should choose a different colour and mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt. At the end of the project, each group member then joins up their marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Living Independently Short Course: Resource booklet
This resource booklet includes resources specifically created to support the Living Independently Short Course, as well as links to resources for other ASDAN courses that may also be used.
Planning a group or team task
This resource can be used when planning a group or team task. It links particularly well to ASDAN's Short Course programmes.
Self-evaluation template
This generic self-evaluation template can be used by learners to evaluate almost any group activity. Learners are asked to record how they felt about the activity and pick out the best and worst bits, before reflecting on what they could do better next time. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Teamwork health check
This generic teamwork health check template can support a wide range of group activities. Learners are asked to come up with a list of agreed ground rules for good teamwork, then rate each group member's performance against these criteria. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Short Courses summary of achievement and personal statement : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses summary of achievement and personal statement : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 1 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 1 : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 2 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 2 : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 3 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 3 : Word version (mandatory)