STUDENT SUPPORT

Students with learning difficulties or disabilities have a choice of pathways:

• Mainstream courses with access to learning support following assessment for learners meeting the relevant entry requirements.
• Courses for students who have mild to moderate learning difficulties and/or disabilities and those who have no formal qualifications or are not in education.
• Foundation Learning for students with moderate learning difficulties offers a supported learning environment in Seasons Learning Hub providing pathways into supported living, volunteering or employment.

If an Education Health and Care plan (EHCp) has been issued the College will require this document to ensure it can meet the provision within it.

The College may request information from parents/guardians, school, support providers and other relevant professionals to make sure that the appropriate support can be put in place before you start at College.

It is important that you tick the ‘support needs’ section on your application form and visit the Learning Support team at interview to inform the College as early as possible of any information you wish to disclose.

If support needs are not disclosed, the College will find it difficult to provide you with any help to meet your learning needs, and this may result in you being unable to continue on your chosen study programme.

The Learning Support team is always on hand at interview evenings, enrolment and open days to discuss any requirements.

The Learning Support team will work closely with you and will ask for your permission to contact other relevant professionals. This will then be shared with your tutor and other relevant staff.

The College will use its discretion to meet individual needs, some of the following may be provided if appropriate:

• Small group support for literacy and numeracy outside of normal class delivered by a Tutor or TA
• Specialist software or adapted handouts, course notes.
• Mentoring.
• Learning support assistants may be available for in-class support depending on the level of study programme.
• Access arrangements for exams such as a reader, scribe or extra time.
• If you have a medical condition or physical disability a care plan will be drawn up to share with the staff that work with you.
• Sensory support.
• Social skills group when recommended and delivered by a speech therapist.
• Access to the College Nurse.
• Bespoke support can also be accessed from external agencies e.g. British Sign Language communicator and/or note taker. (Funded by your local authority.)
• Financial support and/or bursaries may be available

Nescot is unable to provide therapies such as Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Art or Drama Therapies. If therapies are required within a student’s EHCp then Nescot will liaise with the Local Authority who has responsibility for the plan to make arrangements for them to provide this service.

We try to make sure that our premises are accessible to all. We have wheelchair friendly entrances, accessible lift and specially adapted toilet facilities. Once we are aware of individual needs we try to timetable lessons in the most suitable classrooms wherever possible. Our main objective is to create an environment that embraces the individual rights of our learners and their diverse cultural needs.

All staff participate in mandatory training sessions. These include safeguarding, disability awareness, equality and diversity and health and safety. A large number of staff, are specifically trained in supporting a wide range of learning needs and disabilities.

We believe that it is important to transition into a new environment as smoothly as possible. We work individually with new students arranging college visits, link programmes with schools and bespoke study programmes to ensure that the provision meets the individual needs of each student.

When our learners move on and progress from College we liaise with external agencies to ensure that the next move is implemented smoothly.

Weekly tutorials are timetabled and led by your personal course tutor, who will take on the role of your parent in college. They will be your first port of call if you have any queries or concerns.

Activities to cement your understanding will be incorporated and followed by a termly 1:1 sessions with your tutor, to review both pastoral and on programme support.

Our ProPortal software allows you and your parents / guardians to track your grades and see your success, attainment levels and progress on your course. This can also be accessed from home as well as college. We also host regular parent’s evenings.

Parents / carers are encouraged to:

• Phone us directly
• Attend regular parents’ evenings
• Attend annual reviews for students with EHC plans.
• Track your progress on ‘ProPortal’

We endeavour to ensure the wellbeing of all our learners throughout the whole college. We have a strong Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team,  who support, help and encourage students to overcome any issues they may encounter either in or outside college that may be effecting their attendance etc.

Foundation learners access the Seasons HUB for breaks where they can mix socially with friends and eat their lunch etc.

For mainstream students Learning Support provides a variety of areas for students to access during break and unstructured times, these includes

• Staffed area within the main canteen
• Quiet areas
• Learning Resource Centre for quiet independent study

Nescot’s has onsite Nurses available during term time offering advice and support for learners with medical conditions.

If you have a medical condition, please make sure you discuss this when you visit the learning support team at interview.

The Admissions team is situated just off the main reception area. They offer free and impartial careers information and advice to anyone, whether you’re already studying at Nescot, thinking about applying, or not sure what to do next.

If you have an ECHP, we will discuss your future aspirations and planning for adulthood during your annual review and support your liaison with your Local Authority.

All Local Authorities are required to provide information to parents and young people of the SEND provisions available in their local area and provides guidance on the processes required to apply for an EHCp etc.

Below are links to local offers that may be useful to you:

• Surrey
• Sutton
• Kingston
• Merton
• Croydon