Widening Access and learner diversity in health and social care

Summary: The attempt to recruit non-traditional students to health and social work is not just to compensate for the decreased availability of traditional students but because it is socially just. The non-traditional student journey can be lengthy; starting with community-based Widening Access courses then typically on to Access courses in Further Education, before entering Higher Education. One such community based course is described here. Positive evaluation of the courses reflect their local nature, affordable child care and identifiable personal, family and community benefits. Lessons for practice teachers dealing with increased learner diversity are outlined.