Brooksby Melton College
HE ADDITIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT
1.
Introduction
Additional Learning Support (ALS) refers to the extra support for students in response to
identified need(s) without which the student would not be able to achieve success with their
main programme or qualification aim. A range of methods are used to identify support needs
including:
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Self referral on the UCAS application, enrolment or learning development form sent out to
students.
Lecturer referral at induction or on programme or during interview to Learning Development
Team.
Initial assessment in the form of Free-writing is conducted during Induction week.
2.
Purpose & Scope
HOW DO I IMPLEMENT THIS WITH MY STUDENTS?
When conducting guidance interviews, you will need to ensure that, during the interview
process, learning support needs are discussed and that students are made aware of the timing
and purpose of any formal assessments.
As a Tutor who is responsible for a group of students, you should discuss the possible outcome of
any initial assessments with the student and follow up any identified needs by ensuring the
appropriate support is in place and agreeing initial short term targets with the student through
one to one tutorials.
Possible outcomes may include one of the following:
 In some cases initial assessment (free-writing) results may indicate that a student’s needs for
support is so significant that they will need further referral to the Learning Development Team,
to receive the necessary advice and guidance.
HOW WILL THIS IMPACT ON THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE?
Additional learning support ensures students get the help they need in order to succeed.
Understanding the needs of students which enables lecturers to plan their work based on
detailed knowledge of each student’s abilities and needs, thereby maximizing each student’s
progress and chance of success
For guidance on additional learning support, please contact [email protected]
3.
The Procedure
Programme Leader, Personal tutors or Module leaders responsible for a group of students are
required to ensure students who are identified as having additional learning support needs at
interview, enrolment and/or on programme are referred to the Learning Development Team for
further diagnostic assessment.
There are four main routes towards receiving
Additional Learning Support:
 HE students whose Free-writing results indicate a need for additional learning support will be
dealt with by the Learning development Team.
 Where students disclose on their application and learning development form that they
require additional learning support.
 Self or Lecturer referral following an Individual tutorial.
Teaching Staff will complete a HE ALS referral form on the college SharePoint. The Learning
Development Tutor will advise /refer the student on to the relevant external agencies, who can
provide further specialist support.
For students who have a declared difficulty/disability they can apply for DSA (Disabled Students
Allowance) grants.
The grants help meet the needs of individual students and support them through their course.
They are not based on income but individual needs, and are paid to the supplier of support and
equipment provider.
Support could be from specialist tutors and/or assistive technology, for example
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Planning your work.
Developing critical writing skills.
Developing your academic writing skills.
Making reading more manageable.
Avoiding plagiarism.
Making your ideas make sense when you write.
Revision and exam techniques.
Dissertation reading, planning, writing.
Understanding your own strengths, difficulties and learning style.
Support with presentations.
Laptop.
Specialist software such as ‘Read’ and ‘Write Gold’, which helps with proof reading or
‘Dragon’, which is speech to text software.
Dictaphone
One to one support with a specialist tutor, this has been if recommended as part of the DSA
award.
Extended library loans.
Please note: Study support is not
Proofreading – though we can help you to develop independent proofreading strategies.
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Spelling lessons – we don’t focus on spelling, though we can help you with spelling
techniques and strategies if you wish.
Subject specific information and guidance.
Six simple steps to apply for a DSA:
1. Fill in the application form. If you have completed an application form for Student Finance
England and indicated that you want to apply for Disabled Student Allowance, they will send
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an application form to you.
You must send some written evidence of your difficulty/disability to support your application.
Find out if you qualify. Student Finance England will assess your application and send a letter
to let you know if you qualify.
Attend a needs assessment. If you are eligible for Disabled Student Allowance you will need
to arrange a needs assessment to identify the support available to you.
Receive your needs report. You will be sent a report which identifies the equipment and
other support you will need, how much it will cost and where to get it from.
Find out what the DSA can pay for. Your funding body will send you a letter to tell you
whether any equipment and other support that has been recommended in your needs
assessment can be paid for from DSAs. You will also be given instructions on how to order
equipment or arranging other support.
Receive your support. Your funding will be paid direct to the supplier of the equipment or
service.
The Learning and Development team can help you with this process and provide you with one to
one specialist support please e-mail [email protected]
Additional learning support may take many forms within HE, the nature of which is decided by
the Learning Development Team and / or DSA including:
 One to one support for students with complex needs including: dyslexia, ADHD, learning
difficulties, mental health problems, hearing and visual impairment, and pronounced second
language needs. These sessions take place outside the student’s main programme and follow
an interview and appraisal conducted by a specialist support teacher who supports the
completion of the Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
 Specialist HE group workshops, which enable students to work with other students who have a
similar specific learning difficulties.
 The allocation of Learning Support Assistants (LSAs) who provide in-class support to students
identified as having a specific learning difficulty / disability or need. Learning Support
Assistants work in partnership with lecturers to ensure targets are met and those materials
which support the programme are adapted to meet the needs of students.
 The provision of special equipment, including software, for students with learning difficulties
and/or disabilities.
 The Learning Development Tutor will send to the Programme leader a list of recommendations
and strategies to support the student throughout their programme.
4.
Quality Assurance.
As part of quality assurance Brooksby Melton College is dedicated to maintaining and improving
the provision of Additional Learning Support for our Higher Education programmes. In order to
achieve this and to meet the needs of all students BMC commits itself to a rigorous process of
self review and development.
Quality assurance will be monitored and evaluated by
 Student surveys are completed on-line in the first semester to gain valuable initial
feedback as to the service we provide. This is followed by a final year review at the end of
the second semester to enable improvements where necessary.
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Regular Liaison with lecturing and support staff to ensure a consistent, informed approach
for individual students support.
Hidden disability.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT:
DATE FOR REVIEW: Aug 2016
RESPONSIBILITY: CMT
APPROVED BY BOARD: N/A
This policy has been considered for impact upon age,
disability, family responsibility, marital status, race, colour,
ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, gender and sexual
orientation.