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ASDAN Life Skills Challenge Programme

 

​Practical, personalised learning that builds confidence, independence and real-life skills

The ASDAN Life Skills Challenge Programme is designed for learners who need a more flexible and individual approach to education.

Rather than following one fixed course, every learner completes a personalised programme built around their interests, current ability, support needs and future goals.

Challenges are practical, achievable and relevant to everyday life. Learners may work on areas such as independent living, preparing for employment, managing money, cookery, enterprise, animal care, photography, teamwork, communication and personal safety.

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This is not a course your child has to fit into.

It is a programme designed to fit your child.

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Enrolment for September 2026 is now open. To ensure every learner receives an individually planned programme and personalised support, places are limited.

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Learn your way

Every learner is different, so this programme has been designed to offer both flexibility and structure.

The Life Skills Challenge Programme runs throughout the academic year, from September to June. Learners work through their personalised challenges at a pace that suits them, supported by regular feedback, assessment and guidance throughout the year.

New learners are welcome to join during the academic year. Their personalised programme will simply begin from the point they enrol and continue for a year. They are welcome to attend whichever optional live workshops are still to come.

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Alongside their personalised challenges, learners are invited to take part in a programme of optional live workshops that run across the academic year. These practical sessions provide opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence, explore future pathways and gather evidence for their ASDAN portfolio.

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The live workshops are designed to enrich the personalised programme rather than replace it. Learners are welcome to attend as many or as few sessions as they choose, and there is never any pressure to switch on a camera or microphone.

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This flexible approach makes the programme particularly suitable for home-educated learners, SEND and neurodivergent learners, learners receiving EOTAS, young people with medical needs and those who benefit from an individualised approach to learning.

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Evidence can be submitted in a variety of ways, including written work, photographs, presentations, videos, audio recordings and practical activities. Writing never has to become a barrier, and supporting adults may scribe where appropriate, provided the ideas and responses are the learner's own.

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Throughout the programme, learners receive personalised tutor support, assessment and internal moderation. Successfully completed challenges are submitted to ASDAN for certification.

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What could my child work towards?

Every learner follows their own personalised pathway.

For example, a learner preparing for greater independence might focus on:

• shopping and budgeting

• meal planning and cookery

• household skills

• travel planning

• organisation

• personal safety

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A learner beginning to think about employment might explore:

• recognising personal strengths

• creating a CV

• interview preparation

• teamwork and communication

• apprenticeships

• careers education

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Interest-led programmes can include areas such as:

• animal care

• photography

• cookery

• sewing

• gardening

• hospitality

• enterprise

• sport and leisure

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Challenges can be adapted, replaced or expanded as learners' confidence, interests and aspirations develop.

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How the programme works

A personalised starting point

Following enrolment, families ( and learners if happy to do so) complete a simple questionnaire outlining the learner's interests, strengths, support needs, current ability and future goals.

Using this information, I create an individual programme tailored specifically to that learner.

Learners can also choose additional challenges from the ASDAN Challenge Bank, giving them greater ownership over their learning.

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Clear, manageable activities

Every challenge includes clear guidance to help learners understand what they need to do.

Depending on the activity, this may include:

• short video explanations

• step-by-step worksheets

• practical activities

• examples and prompts

• clear guidance about evidence submission

Activities are broken into manageable stages to help learners progress with confidence.

 

Personal tutor support

Learners receive ongoing guidance throughout the programme.

I review submitted work, provide personalised feedback and help families understand what to do next.

If a challenge is not working well for a learner, it can be adapted or replaced with something more appropriate.

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Optional Live Workshops

Alongside their personalised ASDAN challenges, learners are invited to take part in a programme of optional live workshops and specialist sessions throughout the academic year.

These practical sessions help learners develop confidence, independence and real-life skills while providing opportunities to gather evidence for their personalised ASDAN programme.

All live workshops are completely optional. Learners are welcome to attend whichever sessions interest them, regardless of when they enrol. There is never any pressure to switch on a camera or microphone, and learners are free to participate in whatever way feels most comfortable. The sessions included are: 

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Click the timetable to open a larger version. All workshops are optional, and cameras and microphones are always optional.

 

 

Understanding Apprenticeships

Thursday 24 September 2026 at 3:30pm – Zoom

Delivered by NavigATE

Explore different apprenticeship pathways, how they work and how they compare with college, employment and other routes into work. Learners will discover how apprenticeships can provide a valuable route into a wide range of careers.

Explore apprenticeship pathways, how they work and how they compare with college, employment and other routes into work.

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Empathy and Migration

Thursday 8 October 2026 at 9:30am – Online

Delivered by the British Red Cross

Learners will explore empathy, migration and the experiences of people seeking safety and a new life. The session encourages learners to consider different perspectives while developing understanding, compassion and respect for others.

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Learn with the Lords UK Parliament
Friday 6 November 2026, 2:20–3:15pm – Online

Learners will have the opportunity to put their questions directly to a member of the House of Lords and learn more about Parliament, how decisions are made and the role the House of Lords plays in UK democracy.

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Opening Your First Bank Account

Thursday 19 November 2026 at 11:00am – Zoom

Delivered by the Personal Finance Society

Discover how bank accounts work, why they are important, how to choose an account and what to expect when opening your first bank account.

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Meal Planning and Smart Shopping

Thursday 21 January 2027 at 11:00am – Zoom

Delivered by Amy 

Learners will take part in an interactive online shopping activity, working together to plan a simple meal and shop to a budget. Together we'll compare prices, make healthy choices and learn how to get the best value while reducing food waste.

Before the session, learners will complete a short questionnaire so they can vote on the meal they would like to cook the following week

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Practical Cookery

Thursday 28 January 2027 at 11:00am – Zoom

Delivered by Amy

Using the ingredients chosen during the previous week's shopping session, learners will prepare and cook the selected meal together from home while developing confidence in the kitchen, following recipes and practising safe food preparation.

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Understanding Debit and Credit

Thursday 11 February 2027 at 11:00am – Zoom

Delivered by the Personal Finance Society

Explore the difference between debit and credit, how each works in everyday life and how to make informed financial decisions.

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Zoo Ethics

March 2027 – Date to be confirmed – Zoom

Delivered by Dudley Zoo and Castle

Explore the role of modern zoos through a balanced discussion of conservation, education, research and animal welfare. Learners will consider different viewpoints and develop their own informed opinions.

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Animal Ethics

March 2027 – Date to be confirmed – Zoom

Delivered by Animal Aid

Building on the Zoo Ethics workshop, learners will explore wider animal welfare and ethical dilemmas. Through discussion and interactive activities, they will consider different perspectives and develop their own informed opinions about the way animals are treated in society.

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My First CV

Thursday 22 April 2027 at 11:00am – Zoom

Delivered by Amy 

Learners will discover how to create a clear, simple CV that reflects their strengths, interests and achievements. Together we'll explore how hobbies, volunteering, ASDAN work, practical projects and everyday experiences can all demonstrate valuable skills for future education, work experience and employment.

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The £10 Enterprise Challenge

Thursday 13 May 2027 at 11:00am – Zoom

Delivered by Amy 

Can you turn £10 into something amazing? Learners will plan and develop their own small enterprise idea while building skills in budgeting, creativity, marketing, communication and problem solving.

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Staying Safe from Scams

Thursday 20 May 2027 at 11:00am – Zoom

Delivered by the Personal Finance Society

Learn how to recognise common scams, protect personal information, spot warning signs and make safe decisions when using phones, emails, websites and social media.

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A full timetable of optional live workshops, together with any preparation needed, will be sent to enrolled families. As some workshops are delivered by external organisations and guest speakers, dates and presenters may occasionally change. Where permission is given, recordings will be shared for learners who are unable to attend live.

 

Careers Support with My Big Career

Learners also have the opportunity to access additional careers guidance through My Big Career, a national charity that works with young people to help them explore future pathways.

Volunteer career coaches can support learners to:

• explore career ideas

• understand education and training routes

• recognise personal strengths

• build confidence when thinking about the future

The programme understands that some learners may feel anxious about online meetings or speaking to someone new. Sessions are introduced gradually and in a way that feels manageable.

 

Levels and Achievement

Challenges can be completed from Working Towards Entry Level 1 through to Level 2, allowing the programme to support a very wide range of learners.

As learners complete challenges, they build a portfolio of evidence demonstrating their achievements.

Work is assessed, internally moderated and, where appropriate, submitted to ASDAN for certification.

This provides learners with meaningful recognition of their progress while celebrating what they have achieved.

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Is this programme right for my learner?

The programme may be particularly suitable for:

• Home-educated learners

• SEND and neurodivergent learners

• Learners receiving EOTAS

• Young people with medical needs

• Learners attending school or college part-time

• Learners whose abilities are not always recognised through traditional education

• Young people preparing for greater independence, college, training or employment

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No two learners follow exactly the same pathway.

Every programme is shaped around what is meaningful, achievable and useful for each individual learner.

My aim is to help learners enjoy learning again. With the right support, every learner can build confidence, develop independence and discover what they are capable of.

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Programme fee

£245 for the academic year

The one-off fee includes:

• A personalised ASDAN programme

• Bespoke challenge planning

• Pre-recorded teaching and downloadable resources

• Personalised tutor support, assessment and internal moderation

• ASDAN registration and certification

• Access to optional live workshops and specialist sessions

• Careers support opportunities through My Big Career

• Flexible, self-paced learning with no fixed deadlines

• 10% sibling discount

Payment plans are available through Klarna.

There are no hidden extras.

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