25 Supporting your Progress

Supporting your progress

Week No. Activity

Week 1

05.09.22 (1 week window) Induction Initial Assessment Start of Individual Learning Plan (ILP) Start of Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Week 2

12.09.22 (1 week window)

Week 2 – Week 3

12.09.22 - 23.09.22 (2 week window)

Week 4 – Week 5

26.09.22 - 07.10.22 (2 week window) Set SMART targets based upon Initial Assessment

Set SMART targets based upon Initial Assessment

Right Choice Review

Are learners on the right course?

Tasks

Induction programme complete and tracked on Markbook

Complete various Initial Assessments:

• English • Maths • Digital • Vocational • Wellbeing • Soft Skills

Complete Individual Learning Plan (ILP) on ProMonitor reflecting starting point:

• Prior experience • Reason for choice • Qualifications on entry • Plans for work experience • Career aspirations

SMART Target Setting (IA)

SMART Target Setting (IA)

Right Choice Review

By Whom

Teachers / LDMs Personal Tutors LDMs

Personal Tutors LDMs

Vocational Teachers Personal Tutors LDMs

English and Maths Teachers

LDMs

Tutorials for Part-Time Students If you are studying on a part-time course, your course tutor will also be your personal tutor.

Work experience All students across the College from ages 16-18 years will undertake either a 30-hour external work experience placement, an Industry Placement or complete a Youth Social Action Project.

The College values developing your formal education and employability skills. By undertaking placements, you will have the opportunity to develop and enhance these skills, regarded as essential by the majority of employers.

Youth social action projects – Level 1 students. Level 1 students will complete work experience within a youth social action project. In a work experience context, social action can take the form of you honing your work-related skills and behaviours to have a positive impact on your community.

If you have a great idea for a youth social action project, discuss it with your LDM or tutor. Your tutor will lead the project and you may be working with an external employer/ organisation.

External work placement – Level 2 students and some Level 3 learners not on a T Level Level 2 students will do an external work placement with an employer. The work placement will link to your chosen curriculum area and you have to complete 30 hours of real-life work experience within the year.

You will be supported throughout your placement by your designated Careers Coach. Your Careers Coach will help you to identify placements related to your course and support you in completion of an online app that helps you log your hours and experiences.

T Level industry placements Level 3 students undertaking a T Level course will complete a 315-hour Industry Placement with an external employer. The placement will be linked to your course and you will have to complete set aims and objectives.

You will be assessed throughout your placement by College staff and feedback will be given by your employer.

Transition industry placements For those students preparing to progress onto a T Level, there is a 90hour work placement to be completed Industry Placements give students an opportunity to develop their practical and technical skills in a role directly relevant to their vocational course.

Learner Support – Supporting Successful Students We want you to get the most out of your course and have the best chance of being successful. We aim to give you any support we can with your College work. All students are able to benefit from learner support during their time at College.

We offer: • Advice on the best way to get help or to help yourself. • Special assessment of your needs. • Structured support plans tailored towards your individual needs. • Technical equipment support. • Communicator support. • Mentor support for your social, emotional and mental health and wellbeing, or any personal support you may require. • Help with English as a second language. • Dyslexia support. • Introduction to and tuition on accessible software that will read resources to you and much more. • Help with English and maths in class; in our drop-in centre, The

Hub@1.35C; or remotely online. • Support with exam access arrangements, such as extra time or a reader and advice on how to use them. • Support for individual or group work. • Help with planning and organising your work and study skills from our drop in centre, the Hub@1.35C. If you have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP) please let us know by dropping into AG.18, emailing

studentsupportadmins@boltoncc.

ac.uk or ringing support admin on 01204 482 669 or Amelia Ikin on

01204 482 668.

Many students need some extra help at some point in their studies. We will try to identify this, but it is helpful if you talk regularly to your individual tutor. In addition you can:

• Indicate your support needs on the college application form. • Ask when you receive guidance, at interview or enrolment. • Ask at the Student Services Centre or reception at other centres. • Ask your tutor to contact Learner

Support at any point in your course.

• Call in to room AG.18 at the Deane

Road Campus to have an informal discussion with experienced staff or ring 01204 482 669 to be directed to the right person to talk to. • The Learner Support team is based in room AG.18 at Deane

Road Campus. Contact the Learner

Support administration team on

01204 482 669/670.

Library and Learning Resource Centres (LRCs) What you might think of as the library is also called the LRC at Bolton College. We call it the LRC because we provide you with much more than just traditional paper-based books. The LRC team is here to support you, whatever your course and wherever you are based.

We give you access to all different types of learning resources specific to your course, teamed with friendly, experienced and helpful staff to help you with your learning. Our learning resource provision includes:

• Online eBooks that you can read anywhere. • Paper-based books that you can borrow and take home. • A virtual online library which you can access from home using your college login and your user name and password. • Free access to educational websites recommended for your course by your tutor. • Helpful study-skills tutorials and one-to-one assistance in any LRC. • Specialist magazines for your subject area. • eLearning resources for your subject through the Blended Learning

Consortium. whenever you visit the LRCs; you will need it to borrow a book, to print, or to log on to a computer.

Remember that opening times vary betweeb each LRC, so make sure that you check the advertised times. These can be found on your student homepage under ‘Library’, and on every LRC door.

LRC on social media Talk to us on social media! Get updates on our services, ask for help, get involved with local events and find interesting topics for discussion.

The LRC’s content sharing platforms The LRC creates instructional videos to help students learn how to get the best out of the physical and online learning resources offered by the College. Don't forget to click Subscribe to keep up to date with our channel www.youtube.

com/channel/UCok6RZYKgKaeFdly_6LVag

If you like to read and relax then visit our regular blog at www.boltoncc.ac.uk/library - It features all the latest news and views to enrich your learning and broaden your horizons. Here you will also find access to a ‘Personal Development Zone’ which aims to help nurture your self-improvement and growth within areas relating to your mental, social, spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, and study needs. We also publish our own magazine called the ‘Librezine’ which is available as both a digital and print based resource. Our back catalogue can be found here: www.bit.ly/librezine

Asking for Help & Support Whether you are a beginner or a confident IT user, the LRC team will be able to help or point you in the right direction. We can support you with everything from accessing your student homepage, printing and saving your work, through to researching for and referencing your assignments.

Where can I study? The LRCs at the Deane Road Campus are designed with you and your study needs in mind. They provide safe and comfortable areas for you to study in. If you feel that your study needs are not being met at any point, please talk to a member of staff. all of these spaces. Read on to find out which LRC has books relating to your course subject:

Deane Road Campus – A Block – First Floor LRC – A1.46

• Drop-in access to laptops, PCs and iMacs. • Self-issue machine for checking out, renewing and returning your books. • Headphones for use in the LRC and laptop chargers. • Wide range of wellbeing, graphic novels and fiction books. • Wide collection of subject books and magazines. • Study tables for independent work.

Subjects:

• Beauty Therapy & Nails; Media Makeup; Hairdressing & Barbering. • Health Professions; Social Care; Midwifery; Complementary Therapies; Counselling. • Sports; Public Services; Psychology; Sociology; Criminology. • Early Years; Healthcare Play; Teaching & Education. • Catering & Hospitality. • Science and Maths. • Culture & History; Driving Theory.

Deane Road Campus – A Block – Second Floor LRC – A2.29

• Drop-in access to PC and Apple iMac computers. • Large collection of books and magazines. • Self-issue machine for checking out, renewing and returning your books.

• Guillotine and laminator (bring your own pockets). • Headphones for use in the LRC and laptop chargers. • Study tables for independent work.

Subjects:

• Accounting & Book Keeping. • Visual & Performing Arts (Theatre,

Monologues, Screenplays, Animation,

Artists & Techniques, Fashion, Graphic

Design, Textiles). • Business, Administration & Management; Computing & IT;

Marketing. • ESOL; Easy/Quick Reads; Life in the UK. • English; Languages; IELTS; Sign

Language.

Deane Road Campus – B Block – Arts & Construction LRC – B1.28

• Drop-in access to computers. • Range of subject-specific books. • Self-issue machine for checking out, renewing and returning your books. • Printer/scanner. • Headphones and laptop chargers.

Subjects:

• Brickwork; Carpentry & Joinery;

Plastering. • Engineering; Construction & Building

Services. • Electrical Installation. • Painting & Decorating. • Plumbing & Heating. • Roofing & Tiling. • Mechanics. Borrowing and renewing books • All books can be borrowed using our self-issue machines located in each LRC. Just ask a member of staff for help with finding or checking out books. • You can borrow up to six books at a time, 10 if you are a HE student, for three weeks before having to renew. • You can renew your book(s) via several methods: online or through the library catalogue; on a self-issue machine; via email library@boltoncc.ac.uk; via phone 01204 482 176; or at the desk in any LRC. • There is no need to worry about late fines if you go overdue - we will not charge you but just ask that you renew your books on time, so we do not send you a reminder. If you do not bring your books back within 35 days of their due date you will be invoiced for their full cost. The same applies to damaged and lost books.

Reservations If you would like to reserve a book that is out on loan to someone else, you can do this online through the library catalogue or at the desk in any LRC.

REMEMBER: Other students may be waiting for your book to be returned, so please only keep books for as long as you need them.

Student home page and library access

The student home page is the first

page you will see when you log on to

www.boltoncc.ac.uk

It is your personal learning environment - a source of information tailored to you and a gateway to online digital study tools within College.

In the left hand menu you will see a tab called ‘Library’.

Here you can access all the LRC resources; search the digital library catalogue for a book; renew your books; read and download eBooks; access our social media and content sharing platforms; or find general information such as contact details and opening times.

Moodle (My Courses) Moodle contains an online version of your course and other College services. It can be accessed by clicking the ‘Moodle’ button in the left-hand-side column of your student homepage.

The LRC team works with your tutor to support your Moodle course with resources such as links to websites; and videos and eBooks specific to your subject. Make time to explore and familiarise yourself with the student homepage and Moodle area as this is the backbone to your learning experience at College. Any member of the LRC team can help with queries relating to both of these online areas. LRC College induction Your tutor may arrange an LRC induction at the beginning of your course. This induction will be a friendly interactive experience which will either be available for you to access in College, or online.

The induction will show you the essential things you need to know to get started on your learning journey. It will include how to log on, use your College email, and activate your Moodle course - plus where and how you can access the LRC digital library for all our eBooks, eJournals and other online resources.

Our inductions will also show you how to access college-wide facilities such as using the printer, laptop cabinets and self-issue machines. If anything is not covered in your LRC induction, you have not had one, or if you need a refresher, then please ask a member of the LRC team who will be more than happy to help.

Learning in the Community

As an adult it can be daunting taking a step back into education so, at Bolton College, we have a network of community learning centres across the borough to help you step back into learning. Our friendly community team will ensure you have a positive learning journey.

Whether you’re a new student or a returning student, our accessible programmes will boost your confidence, help you to develop skills for employment, and support you to get a qualification.Each centre has its own reception, enrolment centre, café and onsite parking. Ask at a centre reception for anything you need help with and staff will do their best to assist.

We also have a Job Coach and Wellbeing Mentor who work in the community. Suzanne, our Job Coach, can be contacted on 01204 482 387 or emailed at suzanne.delaney@boltoncc. ac.uk - Suzanne helps many of our students with job applications and job interviews.

Carl and Alex, our Wellbeing Mentors, can be contacted on 01204 482 667 or emailed at carl.ridyard@boltoncc. ac.uk or alex.doughty@boltoncc.ac.uk if you want advice or support with any issues that are bothering you. We deliver courses across four centres in the Bolton area: New Bury (Farnworth), Farnworth Library, Brownlow Fold (Halliwell) and Deane & Derby (Deane). We also run courses from a range of smaller community venues across Bolton.

Our Adult & Community Learning programmes fall into five categories:

1Skills for Work & Further

Learning: Programmes to help you gain employment, get ahead at work or move on to further learning. You’ll be spoilt for choice, with everything from sign language to office skills.

2Positive Steps into Learning:

Programmes to improve your mental health and wellbeing, from cookery to confidence building.

3Computer & Digital Skills:

Everyday life is increasingly reliant on computers and digital media. If you feel like you’re behind the times, our computer, IT and digital programmes will bring you into the modern age, improving your IT skills at home and at work.

4English & Maths:

English and maths skills are essential for succeeding in employment or further study. Our FREE programmes will help you to brush up on these vital skills.

5Family Learning:

Our FREE programmes ensure that you’ll always have the answer when your little one puts you on the spot. Even better, you’ll get to work alongside your child at school, so you’ll see what they really get up to in the classroom. We like to stay in touch with all our students, even after they have finished studying with us. So expect a call from us later on to find out how you are getting on with further study and employment.

College Charter

Before your course, we will provide: • Qualifications and other entry requirements needed for the course you intend to study on • Full details of how to move forward and advance within College, and information on what students on the same course have achieved in previous years • Honest, open and impartial advice and guidance to help you make the right decisions • Information about fees and any financial support that might be available • Extra help if you need additional support

At the start of your course, we will: • Give you an induction onto the course and College, and explain clearly your rights and responsibilities as a member of the College community • Show you round the College, and familiarise you with the buildings and facilities • Discuss with you any additional support you may need after your initial assessment

• During your course, you can expect: • A high-quality learning programme delivered by well-qualified and experienced staff • Regular meetings with your tutor to discuss your progress • Opportunities to express your views about your course and College • Your written work and assignments to be returned promptly, with written feedback that can help you in your studies • Opportunities to take part in enrichment activities • Help with careers information, advice and/or guidance • Access to confidential counselling and welfare services (e.g. housing, finance and health issues)

If you are 18 or under, your parents/carers can expect: • Regular progress reviews • At least one Parents’ Evening each year • To be contacted by tutors if there are any issues relating to your progress which are causing concern • The opportunity to provide feedback on the College both informally and by participating in the annual parental

survey at Parents’ Evenings • To be asked to encourage appropriate conduct and hard work at all times