Home Cooking Skills

Here’s what our students have to say…

“Each week there are different meals to cook then you write up a log sheet to say what it was, what was in it, skills we learned and how we can improve on it if we want to cook it again. I’ve learned to cook different meals which I will make in the future when I’m cooking for myself. For example onion bhajis are easy to prepare but shaping them is harder than it looks! For the assignment you have to cook a healthy two course meal for you and a friend. I made a butternut squash soup (I’d never made soup before coming to RNC but I’d definitely make it again) and for main it was beef burger, wedges, peas and carrots. I’m more confident cooking in halls now and the Home Cooking skills has definitely prepared me – I am helping out a lot more in the kitchen at home now too!” Laura Eggins.

Qualification Level

BTEC Level 1 Award (one unit with a value of four credits)

BTEC Level 2 Award (one unit with a value of six credits)

Duration of programme

7-8 months (approximately two terms)

Entry Requirements

Ability to carry out a of range of basic food preparation and cooking tasks – these skills are usually established on the Independent Living Skills programme undertaken during the student’s first year at RNC.

Course Information

The Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Home Cooking Skills have been designed to give students the opportunity to develop:

• The knowledge, understanding and confidence to cook meals at home
• An understanding of how to economise when cooking a meal
• An ability to transfer skills learned to different recipes
• An ability to inspire others by transferring that knowledge
• Understanding of safe food handling and hygiene practices that are relevant to catering.

Teaching Methods

A combination of individual and small group work focusing on practical tasks, underpinning theoretical learning. The course is delivered in our teaching kitchen which allows students to work individually in their own kitchen bay under the supervision of specialist teaching staff.

Assessment Methods

Students undertake a practical assessment task towards the end of the programme. They will be given a realistic scenario in which they have to plan, prepare and cook an appetising one or two course meal for two people.

Progression Opportunities

Learners often progress to self-catering status at College and are able to cook economically and healthily for friends and family when they leave RNC.

Self-Catering Scheme

Once you and our ILS Team are confident of your ability and you have achieved the criteria, you may wish to consider self-catering. The self-catering scheme is ideal if you are planning to progress on to university or move into your own home after RNC.

You can choose to create one or more meals a week, or even produce all meals for yourself. Depending on which option you select, some or all of your meal allowance will be paid into your bank account. You will then be able to plan and budget and be responsible for purchasing and storing ingredients, preparing and cooking your meals.

Student timetables at RNC

We recognise that all of our learners are individuals, which is why no two students will have the same timetable. As well as your core area(s) of study, you will have a mixture of ICT Skills, Orientation and Mobility, Independent Living Skills and/or Braille on your timetables, dependent on your individual needs, goals and objectives.

Here’s what the teachers have to say…

“Once students have been taught a range of food preparation and cooking skills some of them choose to work towards the BTEC Home Cooking Skills qualification. It is lovely to see their confidence and enjoyment of cooking increase as they work independently. There is a great atmosphere in the teaching kitchen as they chat across their work areas to share ideas and plan future meals, and at the end of the course when they have to cook for an invited guest you can tell that they have a real sense of pride in their achievement.” Stephanie Mackey, Teacher in charge – Mobility, Independence and Braille.