"The Learning Support Service is committed to meeting the support requirements of learners who study at the College. We look forward to welcoming you to the College and discussing how we may work together"

Judith Poole - Head of Student Services

We are very proud that on the 11 May 2004, Blackpool and The Fylde College received the Learning Skills Council Beacon Award for Equality and Diversity. The Award was given in recognition of our College-wide approach, going beyond compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Personal and Academic Support - provides individual and group support both in and out of class, including:

• Tutors
• Educational Support Workers
• Communicators
• Mentors
• Preliminary Dyslexia Screening
• Support Technologies - for students with additional needs, including:
  • Technology Support - equipment and training to suit learner's individual requirements
  • Individually Adapted Materials - books and resources adapted to suit individual requirements
  • Blackpool ACCESS Centre - affiliated to the National Federation of ACCESS Centres, providing learner's assessment of individual needs and training in the use of specialist technologies

Contact Us

If you wish to discuss your Learning Support or Additional Needs, please contact us:

Telephone (01253) 504356
Email:
Fax (01253) 356127
TextPhone (01253) 355755

Personal and Academic Support

The Learning Support Services has a large team of people who support learners, both in and out of class, throughout the full range of courses offered by the College. Support is available for learners regardless of their course; ranging from pre-entry courses, through to Higher Education and Degree courses.

Support is available to assist learners with a wide range of tasks, including:

• Literacy Support
• Note-taking and dictation
• Personal needs support (out of class)
• Private study sessions
• Prompting and keeping learners 'on task'
• Simplifying/repeating tutor instructions
• Organisation skills
• Personal self-management skills
• Manual tasks
• Communication skills
• Individual support with course-work and organisation of assessments
• Dyslexia/Literacy support including assistance with punctuation, spelling and grammar

We are also able to offer:

• Sign Language for learners with hearing impairments
• ESOL support
• Lip-readers and lip-speakers
• Dyslexia Screening
• Screening for students with Specific Learning Difficulties such as Dyslexia may possibly lead to a formal Educational Psychologist assessment.

Additional Learning Requirements

Within the Learning Support Service we have a dedicated Technology Support Unit and a full-time materials adapter, who is able to convert text and diagrams into a variety of formats. We have a wide selection of equipment, both within the College and outside, which range from low-tech aids such as large-print or coloured keyboard overlays, portable back-supports and footstools, through to high-tech equipment such as specialist software, electronic magnifiers and computer equipment.

We can provide:

• Assessment of learner's needs
• Installation and support of specialist equipment and technologies, such as:
  • AlphaSmart word processors
  • Hearing loops
  • Ergonomic aids
  • Alternative input devices, keyboards, etc
• Arrangement of specialist software, such as:
  • TextHELP Read & Write for learners with dyslexia or literacy difficulties
  • Supernova, screen reading and magnification software for learners with visual impairments
  • And many others, as required...
• Training in the use of any specialist technologies
• Loan of equipment, where required

Material Adaption

The College employs a full-time material adapter who is able to adapt existing documents, text and resources into a range of formats, including:

• Braille
• Emboss diagrams and images onto special paper / create tactile diagrams
• Audio tape or Compact Disk
• Enlarged text / copy onto A3 paper

We are also able to assist our learners to access written text by offering the following services:

• Simplify language or add pictures and diagrams to text
• Change font type, size, colour or spacing to suit learner's individual requirements
• Whatever your preferred reading method, we can convert any of the College's resources to suit your individual needs.

Access Centre

Blackpool ACCESS Centre is affiliated to the National Federation of ACCESS Centres, which encompasses a number of similar centres throughout the UK. Our aim is to promote inclusive learning for all, regardless of additional needs. We offer learners a thorough assessment of their study needs, advice on strategies, support and technologies which will assist the learner and provide subsequent training and technology support.

What will happen during the assessment?

Our friendly and knowledgeable assessors will discuss with you and identify useful study strategies to help you deal effectively with your study requirements in the light of your disability. You will have the opportunity to discuss any particular difficulties you have accessing your course and your study Institution's resources, and the chance to try out a range of useful aids.

Once we have agreed your study needs, we will introduce you to a range of relevant adaptive technology, including computing hardware and software, where necessary.

Students are often anxious about the assessment process - being unsure what will occur. The assessment takes the form of an 'informal chat' where we identify your individual study needs and recommend appropriate solutions which will assist your studies. We have a range of technologies which you can try out during the assessment to see how suitable you find them. Our experienced assessors aim to put you at your ease and to find out what works for you and what can realistically be provided under the Disabled Student's Allowance.

Where are we?

We are based within the Bispham campus at Blackpool & The Fylde College. When you contact us to arrange an assessment, we are happy to send full details of how to find us. We are also able to offer home assessments for learners with mobility difficulties. What happens after the assessment?

A formal report detailing your study needs and the recommendations that we have agreed will be sent to you, for your approval. After you have approved the report it will be sent to your Local Education Authority for consideration of our recommendations. Your Local Education Authority will write to you, detailing what recommendations they approve and the technologies and support can then be arranged.

We will be happy to act upon your behalf to arrange a supplier to deliver your specialist technology to your address. When your equipment has been delivered we will be pleased to offer training in the use of the recommended technologies - either at the College or your own address, as appropriate. Disabled Student's Allowance

The Disabled Student's Allowance is a supplementary allowance available to students who incur additional expenditure because of their disability while undertaking a full-time higher education course. From Academic Year 2000/2001, all disabled students undertaking a part-time course, which is at least 50% of a full-time equivalent higher education course, are also eligible for the DSA. The DSA is not means-tested.

Applications for the DSA must be sent to your Local Education Authority. Scottish students should use the yellow DSA application form (AB27) provided by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Non-Scottish students should contact their Local Education Authority for advice on their DSA application process. All applications for the DSA must be endorsed by a member of staff at the student's institution. They must also include recent medical evidence (e.g. a doctor's letter) explaining the nature and extent of the student's disability.

For dyslexic students, an up-to-date assessment by a chartered psychologist is usually required.

Links

For further DSA information please check the following links:

www.skill.org.uk Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. Skill is a national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK.

www.direct.gov.uk - To locate your Local Education Authority