Course Aims & Objectives

The provision of a follow on course from our Karts programme for 14 – 24 year olds introducing them to VEHICLE SERVICING.  Please see photographs of our students in action by clicking here.

Learners will be able to demonstrate:-

• Minimum of 80% attendance and completion rates.
• Introduction to vehicle servicing skills.
• Safe working practices in the workshop.
•  the legal requirements for putting a car on the road.
• Produce a body of evidence of their work

Details

• Transport of learners to The Wheels Project is not provided.
• We offer a riding or driving session in week six. The choice currently is either quad biking or karting. The quad biking takes place on private land in Pontyprydd, Wales with Taff Valley Quads. The karting with Teamsport based in Avonmouth.
• Student participation in the riding/driving activity is at the discretion of the Wheels’ Supervisors – any learner whose behaviour is considered to be too risky on the grounds of safety, or who has missed more than two sessions, will not qualify to take part.
• All riding/driving activities are supervised by qualified, experienced staff from the provider of the activity and are accompanied by at least one member of Wheels staff.

Method

An integrated learning facility combining basic mechanical theory with the repair and maintenance of a small saloon car together with a basic input covering the legal requirements for vehicle use on the highways.

Teaching Aids

A modern, fully equipped motor vehicle workshop and classrooms.

2 cars (small hatchbacks) for the students to work on.

Mock Theory Tests now available on line at www.driving-tests.co.uk

Other useful links:-

• www.dsa.gov.uk
• https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/driver-and-vehicle-licensing-agency
• www.direct.gov.uk/en/travelandtransport/highwaycode

Safety Aids

A comprehensive range of workshop equipment overalls, gloves, safety boots, goggles, – all provided by The Wheels Project.

Programme

1 x 2 ½ hour session a week for 6 weeks.

All groups attend The Wheels Project without the presence of others with the aim of reducing distractions and aiding concentration. All eligible groups will compete in an Arrive and Drive event during the final session of each term.

Week 1

Brakes – Workshop Supervisors

• Review and Evaluation of Kick Start programme – 30 mins
• Content and Structure of programme – 15 mins
• Purpose of Brakes – types, layout – 30 mins
• Strip and Examination of brakes – 75 mins

Week 2

Cooling System – Workshop Supervisors

• Purpose of Cooling System – 30 mins
• Layout of Cooling System – 30 mins
• Remove and Refit Radiator & Cooling Fan – 90 mins

Week 3

Wheels and Tyres – Workshop Supervisors

• Purpose of Wheels and Tyres – 20 mins
• Legal requirements – 25 mins
• Types of Wheels and Tyres – 15 mins
• Remove, Refit and Re-balance a tyre – 90 mins

Week 4

MOT and Bodywork Checks – Workshop Supervisors

• Purpose of MOT Certificate – 30 mins
• Purpose of Bodywork Checks – 30 mins
• Inspect to Buy exercise – 90 mins

Week 5

Servicing and Evaluation – Workshop Supervisors

• Reasons for Servicing – 30 mins
• Service a car – 90 mins
• Completion of End of Course Evaluation Forms by Wheels staff, students and key worker to measure any transformations observed – 30 mins

Week 6

• Quad biking or Karting event

NOTES

HEALTH AND SAFETY SESSION

• Safe working practices are delivered and reinforced by the Supervisors throughout this programme

DRIVING ACTIVITY

All students who complete at least 4 of the first 6 sessions of this course may be eligible to participate in a karting/driving event at TeamSport, Avonmouth (see the  bullet points below).

Any student can opt out of this driving activity but in the event of doing so must attend an additional workshop session.

All groups attend The Wheels Project without the presence of others with the aim of reducing distractions and aiding concentration. All eligible groups will compete in an Arrive and Drive event at the end of each term.

Arrive and Drive Karting Event held at TeamSport, Third Way, Avonmouth, Bristol (Tel: 08444 109 109).

• Wheels’ Supervisors have the discretion to bar a student from attending the driving session, on the grounds of safety, if that student’s behaviour throughout the course has caused sufficient concern. The student will be informed of this decision during the final session at Wheels prior to karting.
• Learners will be excluded from driving at end of term if they are absent for more than two planned sessions.
• A student will not be allowed to attend the driving event if he/she has not returned the signed parent/guardian consent form (given out during the first session at Wheels) by the week before karting at the latest.
• Two members of staff  must be present at the karting session.  At least one will be a member of the Wheels Project staff, the other maybe a Key Worker from the referring organisation.
• One member of staff accompanying a group will be able to take part in the karting, provided there are at least two members of staff present.

Qualifications

In-house certificate of completion.

OCR National Skills Profile Servicing Module in Motor Vehicle Studies (optional) – Entry 3

Groups

• Groups will be pre-formed by the referring organisation.
• Group size is 4 – 8 learners.
• Wheels does not have more than one group at its centre at any one time.
• A Risk Assessment on learners must be completed by Key Workers before start of course – those with history of violent behaviour are excluded from Wheels programmes.

Criteria for Selection

Students’ behaviour should be causing concern to group leaders and exhibit at least three of the following factors:

• Aged between 14 – 24 years
• Anti-social behaviour
• Poor educational record
• Truanting
• Exclusion from school
• History in substance mis-use but not in the past 6 months
• Criminal record

Intakes Dates

Intakes for groups occur at the start of each academic term and also during the Summer holidays.

Venue

The Wheels Project Ltd
31-32 Bonville Road
Brislington
Bristol BS4 5QH

Tel: 0117 971 1711
Contact: David Glossop, General Manager
Email: david@wheelsproject.org.uk

Staff

• 2 Workshop Supervisors from The Wheels Project
• 1 Teacher/Key Worker from referring group (recommended)

More Notes

• Transport of students to The Wheels Project is not provided
• TeamSport, Third Way, Avonmouth, Bristol (Tel: 08444 109 109).

Conduct of Students

• No alcohol or illegal drugs are allowed and anyone suspected of being under the influence will be excluded for that session.
• Students who repeatedly break the rules agreed in week 1 will be warned by our supervisors, their referring officer notified and may be excluded from the group permanently if that behaviour continues
• Violent behaviour will result in immediate removal from the course.
• Students will be warned against bullying behaviour and will be removed from the course if this behaviour persists.

Beneficiaries

“Great staff who take an interest in me”

“Helpful and I love working on the vehicles”

“never knew I could do it”

“Great fun and really learned a lot”

Referrers

“well managed, well organised and get plenty of good feedback from Wheels and our students”

“Easy to access and plenty of options”

“Don’t have to commit lots of money all at once”

“Made a fantastic difference to the self-confidence of our students which has helped them engage with what we’re offering back at school”

“An excellent resource which has good policies and practices and offers a safe environment for our students”

“always looking to help us”

“Experts at working with our students”

Partners

“A wonderful environment in which to enable their students to develop skills for work and skills for life”

“Somewhere that provides the care and attention needed by these students”

“a brilliant place to learn safely about work, friendship and helping others”

“gives great value for money”