www.mbro.ac.uk 2017 / 2018 SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS A guide to additional learning support available at Middlesbrough College WELCOME At Middlesbrough College, we take Special Educational Needs very seriously. Meeting your individual needs is the best way to help you achieve your educational goals and we hope this booklet gives you an overview into the support available. Middlesbrough College wants all students to have equal opportunities to achieve their full potential and welcomes applications from students with a learning difficulty, disability, or any other support need. Our aim is to provide the appropriate resources, facilities and services to enable you to be successful in your chosen programme of study. Whatever your educational need, we aspire to have the right provision for you; from Life Skills courses for students with severe learning difficulties through to in-class support for students who need additional assistance with their vocational course. We are committed to co-operating with local authorities to adhere to special educational needs and disability code of practice (SEND) using our best efforts to meet the needs of students. If you have an Educational, Health and Care Plan and want more information on our courses, or would just like further information on the additional support we offer, don’t hesitate to contact the Additional Learning Support Team. Your Additional Learning Support (ALS) Team: 01642 333528 / 01642 333902 / 01642 333605 [email protected] / [email protected] CONTENTS Meet the Team Page 4 Autism Page 6 Dyslexia Page 7 Dyscalculia Page 8 Physical Mobility Page 9 ESOL Page 9 Behavioural, Emotional & Social Difficulties Page 10 Sensory Impairments Page 11 Life Skills Page 12 Facilities To Help You Succeed Page 22 Student Services Page 24 Advice and Guidance Available Page 25 We’re Better Without Bullying Page 25 Fantastic Student Perks Page 26 Student Testimonial Page 28 Student Testimonial Page 29 So What’s Next? Page 30 How To Find Us Page 31 Meet the Team Erin Foster Jenni Cairns Emma Cowley Jan Mann Specialist Learning Support ALS Manager Deputy SEN Manager Learning Support Coordinator Assistant (ASC) Paul Wilson Michael Bond Karen Horecki Catherine Davidson Lecturer in Numeracy & Specialist Learning Support Lecturer in Literacy & Lecturer in Literacy & Dyscalculia Support Assistant (Dyslexia) Dyslexia Support Dyslexia Support Leanne Taylor Stephen Pugh Wendy Morris Trish Doolan Specialist Support Assistant Specialist Learning Support Specialist Learning Specialist Learning Support (Sensory Support HL) Assistant (Sensory Support / V.I.) Support Assistant (EBD/ADHD) Assistant (ESOL) Steven Fowler Mandy Connerly Christine Stockdale Tracey Buckton Specialist ALS Lecturer Specialist ALS Lecturer (Maths) Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant (English) 4 Tracey Raw Jill Jones Ambreen Mustafa Britt Scurr Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Sue Cliff Shirley Pacitto Danielle Ripley Harry Wilkinson Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant John Skelton Phillip Ruddock Margaret Douglas Jo Roche Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Stewart Withers Sarah McGee Michael Atkinson Belina Holt Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant Learning Support Assistant 5 Support for Students with... AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) We understand how difficult it can be to As a student at Middlesbrough College we progress from school or another college to will work with you to assess your support somewhere new. needs to help you access College, enjoy studying and achieve your learning goals. From your very first visit to Middlesbrough College, we will make sure our Specialist Once we have agreed what you require, Learning Support Assistant is available to we will organise a package of support, meet and work with you and your school such as 1:1 support in your classes or or college to make this move as stress free group support. This will help you with as possible. your organisational skills and encourage you to remain on task as well as helping We will arrange for you to come and visit you to develop your independence. us and chat about the courses you are interested in. We will also arrange a tour We can also support you to find your way around the College and departments around the building, help with escorting where your learning will take place so that you to your transport and help you to get you can see what you will be doing and access to College life in general. the environment you will be learning in. We have a quiet area in the Learning In addition, we will also show you other Support Hub where you can talk to our parts of the College that will help you to Learning Support Assistants and get the enjoy college life, such as our social and support and guidance you need. eating areas as well as fantastic facilities like The Bridge, our sports area and the If you are eligible for exam concessions Learning Resources Centre. we will also provide you with appropriate support to help you maximise your We could also organise a taster session so opportunities to demonstrate your that you can try your chosen course before abilities. you commit to enrolling. We will also liaise with your Tutors to If you do decide to come and enrol, our make sure you can access the course Specialist Learning Support Assistant will information in the ways you prefer. meet you again and support you through Everyone is different and we will assess the interview and enrolment process if your support needs with you and agree necessary. what’s suitable for you. 6 Support for Students with... DYSLEXIA If you have a learning difference, such Alternatively you may prefer our drop as Dyslexia, you can get support from in literacy support session, based at The Specialist Tutors who will help you Bridge. You can discuss your assignments, to develop your reading, writing and get support with proof reading or spelling skills. This support will make a assistance with research. big difference to your College experience, enabling you to complete your studies. If you are thinking of enrolling at Middlesbrough College and think you may We can meet with you weekly, either have Dyslexia, please tell us in confidence individually or in small groups. This by ticking the box on the application form. support is based on your individual needs, which you can decide on with your Tutor. You will be invited to carry out an This may include working on key words assessment called the DAST Assessment. related to your area of study, reading skills, This will let us know if you have writing and spelling strategies, the use characteristics of Dyslexia and what of writing frames or improving sentence support our specialist team can give structure. you. You will find us in The Bridge above Student Services. 7 Support for Students with... DYSCALCULIA If you are interested in studying on one Some students have characteristics of of our courses but are worried that your Dyscalculia and have difficulty seeing numeracy skills are not quite up to the patterns of numbers whereas others may right standard, you may be able to get have gaps in their learning and need support to improve your skills to enable to catch up on the foundations of basic you to succeed on your chosen course. maths. We will assess your abilities with numbers Whatever your needs are, we will assess using computer based assessment tools your current levels and provide you with that can reveal if your number skills support if required and keep in close require support. contact with your curriculum area to make sure we support you with the maths skills We can design you a tailor made support you need to achieve. package to target the skills you may need to help you succeed on your course if You will find us in The Bridge above required. Student Services. 8 Support for Students with... PHYSICAL MOBILITY Middlesbrough College has excellent We work closely with Occupational facilities including those that support our Therapists and other Health Care students who need help with personal Professionals ensuring that the help care and physical mobility. provided with is led by those teams to make sure your support is consistent and Our building has four floors and our three tailor made to meet your needs. lifts make all areas accessible as well as automatic doors and accessible car parks. Once we are confident that we can make the reasonable adjustments to meet your We have a medical room that is equipped needs, we will design a support package with facilities needed such as hoists, slings, that suits you including providing the beds, lockable cabinets for medication equipment and assistive technologies you storage and toilets making our facilities need and the help to access college life accessible whilst maintaining your privacy. such as lunch time support or an escort to your transport. Support for Students with... ESOL (ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES) If English is not your first language with mastering unfamiliar words that are you may benefit from accessing some associated with a particular subject or just Additional Learning Support to help you help with explaining instructions. We can with your studies. also provide you with support to help you succeed. Whether you are studying on an ESOL course or a course in one of our vocational We will assess your needs right from the areas, we can support you in a variety of word go and if you need it, we will build a ways including assignment writing, help support package that’s individual to you. 9 Support for Students with... BEHAVIOURAL, EMOTIONAL & SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES We hope continuing your education as financial support, careers advice or just at Middlesbrough College will be an the day to day issues of being a student enjoyable and exciting experience for you.