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What We Do

Support for Care Experienced, Care Leavers and Vulnerable Students

At Trafford and Stockport College Group, we are committed to ensuring that all learners have the opportunity to succeed – especially those who may face additional challenges. If you have experience of being in care or feel you have experienced other challenges in your life, you are not alone. We are here to support you every step of the way.

Who We Support

We offer tailored support for students who identify as:

Looked After Children / Children Looked After

Care Leavers

Young Carers

Estranged (separated) from parents

Unaccompanied Minors (a child living in this country without family)

Military Children

Young Parents

Students with Criminal Convictions

Students who have or have ever had a Social Worker

How We Help

From your very first contact with us, we ensure that you have access to the right support, including:

Before You Start

Guaranteed interviews and flexible arrangements tailored to your circumstances.

College Ready Project: Helping you transition smoothly into college life.

Pre-application support for bursaries and funding, including access to the Guaranteed Bursary.

Attendance at meetings with other professionals working with you and early planning meetings with your schools, carers, and professionals.

When You Join

A dedicated Designated Teacher (DT) to co-ordinate your support.

A named mentor to offer personalised, consistent guidance throughout your course.

A full pastoral support offer from Learner Services, including referrals to wellbeing, mental health, and external services.

Bespoke support plans, including risk assessments, care plans, and academic interventions.

Access to high-quality careers guidance aligned to your needs and ambitions.

Our Approach

We are an Attachment Aware and Trauma Informed College.

Our staff receive regular training to understand and respond to the needs of young people with care experience.

We promote high aspirations and will work with you to ensure barriers to success are identified and removed early.

We collaborate closely with Local Authorities and other professionals to make sure everyone is working together to support you.

Your Rights & Our Commitments

We will respect your lived experience and listen to your voice in decisions.

We will keep your information safe and confidential.

We will offer flexible, inclusive, and fair support in all aspects of college life.

Supporting Our Armed Forces Community

Trafford and Stockport College Group has formally committed to supporting students and families with parents who are currently serving, have previously served, or are part of the reserves.

Representatives from the college officially signed the Armed Forces Covenant, an important pledge that reinforces our dedication to ensuring members of the Armed Forces community are treated with fairness, understanding, and respect.

This commitment reflects our ongoing mission to create an inclusive, supportive environment where every learner and family feels valued. The covenant signing marks a meaningful step in strengthening the support we offer, and we look forward to continuing this work in partnership with our community.

If you need any further details about the covenant or our pledge, please visit here: Education – Become a signatory – Care Leaver Covenant

Trafford & Stockport College Group Awarded NNECL ‘Exceptional’ Status

Trafford & Stockport College Group has renewed its prestigious NNECL Quality Mark, becoming the first college in the country to do so, and has once again achieved ‘Exceptional’ status in Section 7. This recognition highlights the Group’s strong commitment to supporting vulnerable, care‑experienced, estranged, and asylum‑seeking learners, ensuring they have the guidance and opportunities needed to thrive.

The achievement is a significant milestone that reflects the dedication and collaborative efforts of staff and partners across the Group. NNECL Programme Manager Sian Edwards commended the Group’s robust submission and the strength of its internal and external partnerships.

This accolade reinforces the Group’s position as a leading provider of inclusive education and its ongoing mission to champion opportunity for every learner.

Trafford & Stockport College Group Signs the Care Leaver Covenant

We are proud to share that we have now signed the Care Leaver Covenant, reinforcing our commitment to supporting care‑experienced young people as they move into further education, employment, and independent adulthood.

By signing the Covenant, we have pledged to offer meaningful opportunities, tailored guidance, and a supportive environment where care‑experienced learners can thrive. This step strengthens the work already taking place to remove barriers, promote wellbeing, and ensure every student has the chance to succeed.

The Covenant reflects a shared belief in the power of education to transform lives, and we remain dedicated to improving outcomes for care‑experienced young people across our community.