Educational Learning Support

If you have disclosed an additional support need, you will be invited to meet with one of our Educational Support Advisers (ESAs) to talk about your individual support needs. Your Educational Support Adviser can help you to decide what support and technology you may need and arrange this for you. As you go through your course this may change to match your needs.

The ESA can also:

• Make sure you get hand-outs and course materials in the format you require
• Help with study skills like essay writing, organisation skills and preparing for exams and assessments
• Agree assessment arrangements – extra time, a separate room
• Talk to teaching staff and support staff to make sure you are getting the best support
• Arrange Classroom Support
• Arrange Communication Support

If you would like to develop your reading, writing or numeracy skills, or your ESOL literacy skills, you should contact one of our Adult Literacy & Numeracy (ALN) Development Workers. Support is available throughout the summer to prepare you for your chosen course, or you can contact them at any time during your studies.

Everyone has their own target and level of skills, which is why they will work with you to create your own personal learning plan. If you wish to find out more about this service and how it can help you, you should email els@nclan.ac.uk.

If you require Assessment Arrangements (AAs) you must have completed a Personal Learning Support Plan (PLSP) with an ESA. You may have to supply supporting evidence of your need(s), this will be discussed with you. Once AAs are agreed, it is your responsibility to:

• Complete an Assessment Arrangement request form
• Give as much notice as possible (at least one week, where possible)

Please remember that, AAs available can differ depending on the subject of your assessment (i.e. core skills assessments).

If you are studying at HNC level or above and have a diagnosed disability, you may be eligible to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

DSA is a no income assessed allowance to cover any extra costs or expenses you might have while studying, which arise because of your disability.

If you would like to find out more about applying for DSA, you should discuss this with your Educational Support Adviser. They will be able to advise you on your eligibility to apply and the evidence you will require.

If an application is made for Disabled Students’ Allowance we will arrange for you to attend a needs assessment and will ensure that all relevant documentation is sent to SAAS on your behalf.

If it has been agreed that you require classroom support, such as note-taking, reading, scribing, prompting, or if you have booked assessment arrangements, this will be organised by a Senior Classroom Support Worker.

We will liaise with your class lecturer and ESA to ensure that assessment arrangements such as a reader/scribe, the use of ICT or screen reading software is in place for you.

The role of the Classroom Support Worker (CLSW) is to help promote equal access within the college for students with additional support needs.

A CLSW will:

• Provide one to one support as identified by your ESA
• Provide reading / scribing / prompting / note taking support to students
• Support you when working on tasks as set by the class lecturer
• Enable you where possible, to participate in practical sessions as directed by the class lecturer or ESA
• Assist you to access resources within the College, for example the library
• Assist in setting up or operating equipment such as digital recorders, video recorders, laptops etc.
• Provide assistance when using Assistive Technology

A CLSW will not:

• Provide you with additional teaching
• Be responsible for your supervision or discipline
• Administer medicine or perform any tasks related to personal care
• Place their own interpretation on any work given out by the lecturer
• Comment on the quality of your work

Our team of Communication Support Workers (COSWs) work with D/deaf learners and hearing impaired learners. If you have disclosed on your application form that you are deaf or have a serious hearing impairment you will be contacted by an ESA to find out if you will require communication support at your needs assessment interview. Communication support can also be arranged for your course interview as well.

If you require communication support for your timetabled classes, you should remember that your COSW will:

• interpret for you: hearing learners and college staff
• interpret everything that is said or signed
• sign handouts for you or change them into plain English
• book camera equipment for assessments
• explain the differences in D/deaf and hearing cultures to learners and staff as required

Your COSW will not:

• do your work for you
• be responsible for your behaviour at any time
• manage your study

While we cannot guarantee that you will have the same COSW all the time, we will try to make sure you work with the same person for each subject where possible.

You do not need to book a COSW for your normal timetable. However you do have to notify us of timetable changes and book support for meetings, assessments, visits to the college nurse and to access other college support services. You should aim to notify us one week before you need support.