Students with Additional Learning Needs Support Policy

1. Introduction

This policy aims to level the playing field for all current and potential students with an additional learning need by providing appropriate and timely interventions and support. We actively encourage those students with additional support needs to disclose their requirements as early as possible so that we can endeavour to meet them as soon as possible.

In particular, the college takes its responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act seriously and has a commitment to

Actively promote equality of opportunity. Actively encourage involvement of students who have disabilities in policy and

decision making to remove barriers to access, achievement and progression Meet individual needs in ways that make everyone feel valued and respected in

order that they can fulfil their full potential Continue the process of inclusive learning.

1.1 Scope

The policy is for the benefit of all full-time, part-time and pre-16 students and apprentices with additional learning needs, learning difficulties or disabilities and should be adhered to by all staff.

2. Equality and Diversity

This policy will be applied consistently to students regardless of their, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, background or personal circumstance, or whether they work on a full or part time basis. We are a diverse college and want everyone to feel valued and included in the college community and to achieve his or her full potential. The college is opposed to any form of discrimination and commits itself to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate.

3. Safeguarding

Suffolk New College recognises its legal and moral duty to provide a safe environment for everyone, implementing procedures and training to ensure support and protection for their well-being. The College will take appropriate action where the safeguarding of any person is threatened. This policy is applied with safeguarding in mind.

4. Application of the policy

4.1 Wherever possible, we attempt to be anticipatory in our readiness to support students.

A Section 139a assessment will be received for all Year 11 school leavers with a Statement of Educational Needs. This provides a written report of educational and training needs and the provision required to meet those needs. A Section 139a assessment will involve liaison with the young person, parents and carers the school Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), Connexions PA and relevant specialist agencies.

With the consent of the student the report is shared with the college to ensure that the student is on the right course and provide information to meet transition and support needs.

A Section 139a form may also be completed if the student is identified as School Action or School Action plus.

4.1.2 Additional support is available to students at each stage of their college experience and may be accessed using any of the following strategies:

a) Through schools links, through college open evenings and programme

guidance events, we engage with students at an early stage;

b) For all full time students, we encourage disclosure of additional support requirements at the application stage so that we can offer specialist assistance at programme guidance events;

c) For full time, part time students and apprentices, there are further opportunities for disclosure at enquiry stage, enrolment, induction, through screening or in tutorials with personal tutors. Teachers of part-time groups are asked to be vigilant for additional support needed by students joining their class;

d) We use basic skills initial assessment and screening at induction for full time students, followed by individual diagnosis as appropriate, so that students then receive suitable support as soon as possible after the start of their college course;

e) Students who decline to disclose during admissions and inductions are further encouraged to do so by tutors for exam entry and for educational trips. Students may self-refer via Student Support or request their tutor to refer them for specialist support at any time during their course at College;

f) Students who need support for progression to HE may receive advice from Student Support e.g. application for Disabled Students Allowance.

5. Implementation

Additional Learning Support (ALS) will include any activity that provides direct support for learning to individual students, over and above that which is provided in a standard learning programme. The need may arise from a learning difficulty or disability or from literacy, numeracy or language support requirements.

In assessing support needs, the college will exercise reasonable judgement and make reasonable adjustments on an individual basis. This judgement and the decision on support will be determined by Student Support in liaison with Link Teachers, Curriculum Centre Heads, Course Team, and where appropriate parents and external agencies.

5.1 Application and admissions arrangements

5.1.1 It is college policy to consider all applications from students with disabilities on the same grounds as those applied to students i.e. students are offered a place dependent upon their having the necessary skills and abilities for a specific course or training programme.

5.1.2 Students who have a disability or learning difficulty are invited to have an informal interview with Student Support Service prior to application.

5.1.3 Potential students who may need considerable and bespoke support packages have an opportunity for ‘taster’ days in college when suitable courses and appropriate support can be decided.

5.1.4 College policy is to integrate students needing additional support into an appropriate course by providing suitable support for each individual. However, where learning difficulties are greater, the College also has discrete courses available for students who can benefit from individually designed programmes (which may also include activities within vocational curriculum areas of the College).

5.2 Central Services

5.2.1 The Student Support Team provides help and support for all students in the College as well as advice and guidance for people considering coming to College. In addition, the Connexions Service provides individual support for College students and those progressing from secondary school.

5.2.3 The Student Support Team are responsible for ensuring that any additional support that students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties studying on any course, at any level, might need, is provided effectively. Services include:

Support for students before and during admissions; Dyslexia screening/testing followed by, where appropriate, formal

assessment Support for sensory impairments, physical disabilities, specific learning

difficulties, medical conditions and mental health difficulties An advisor who assesses and supports students in the use of assistive

technologies A considerable range of specialist equipment and software is available for

loan or is accessible across college e.g. adaptive materials recording texts, enlarging texts, brailing

Provision of note takers, communicators/signers, learning support assistants Special exam arrangements Personal care

5.2.4 Allocation of Learning Support Assistants (LSAs)

LSA support will be allocated by the Link Tutor, Curriculum Centre Head and programme Leader and monitored by Student Support, Link Tutor and Curriculum Centre Head. The support provided is based on all of the following:

The proportion and degree of learning difficulty and/or disability a student

experiences. The contexts/subjects that they are learning. The 139a information, skills screening, group skills profile and interview

results

5.2.5 Course teams arrange for initial basic skills screening for all full time students and relevant part time students. Students identified as needing support receives this based on an individual learning plan.

5.2.6 Learning Curve. The Learning Curve is committed to developing access to all. Facilities include:

Large print versions of LRC information sheets Learning Curve inductions devised for different ability levels

Braille versions of Learning Curve guides, on request Some aural versions of texts on tape and CD Big keys keyboards Height adjustable PC tables Magnifiers with options to change font and background colours for

students with visual impairments Customisation of workstations and displays on PCs (e.g. enlarging text,

changing background colours and font styles).

6. Responsibilities

6.1 Staff

All staff are to be aware of and recognise and apply the contents of this policy to individual students and their needs.

6.2 Managers

To ensure their staff consistently apply the procedures outlined with in this policy.

6.3 Students

Are encouraged to make the college aware of any learning difficulty or disability and to accept appropriate support offered.

7 Confidentiality

Once one person in the college knows about a student’s disability, the whole college is deemed to know. It is not up to a student to ensure that all relevant staff are informed. This means that staff should be clear on their responsibility to make adjustments and to share information about a student’s disability when this is necessary. Information about a student’s disability can only be shared if the student’s written consent has been obtained.

A student with a disability has the right to confidentiality about the nature or degree of their disability. Students should be able to discuss their disability and its implications for their course in private, in a way that suits them. Besides preserving confidentiality staff will, of course, need to ensure that any adjustments required by a student are made with sensitivity and that they are made as discreetly as possible and in ways that attract as little attention as is possible. In some instances this might mean that reasonable adjustments have to be provided in an alternative way in order to ensure confidentiality.

8 Further Guidance

The College understands that there may be occasions when it is not possible to adhere to all parts of the policy. Should you have any questions or specific requirements concerning this policy please contact the Student Support Team in the first instance.