PRIORY EXTRA
Course Handbook 2013 – 2014
USEFUL INFORMATION
Candidate number
College Tel number
Personal Tutor
Family details/dates
Special college dates
Hospital dates
Tutorial dates
Work Experience Placement
BOSTON COLLEGE
COURSE HANDBOOK
WELCOME
The ExTra programme is designed to bridge the gap between school and college for learners aged 16-18 with more complex needs. The course is designed to enhance individual development in an adult environment. Learners attend Priory ExTra for 3 days a week and College for 2 days. The days at Priory includes a day for work experience. The course will hopefully lead to a place in foundation at Boston College or a place at another College. You may find that when you start on the course you will have a great deal of information to take in at once. In the first week you will have a full induction of Priory School and Boston College. Your tutors will be there to answer any questions that you may have. Staff Michelle Hoole Petch Morrison Vicky Markham
-
Head of Curriculum Programme Area Manager Co-ordinator of ExTra Programme
YOUR PERSONAL TUTOR All learners will have a Personal Tutor. Your tutor will introduce you to the College, help you to settle in and generally be there to give you help and information. Your Tutor is usually your first point of contact with the College and a source of help. You will have the opportunity meet with the Tutor on a one-to-one basis and also in ILP sessions.
QUALIFICATION AIM The qualifications help to enhance individual development including confidence so that they are prepared for a full-time College setting.
COURSE FRAMEWORK During this course you will be completing units of work within an allocated time and then you will be assessed on these units in the form of assignments for each unit. You will receive help in completing these assignments. Details of the content and the order of the units you will be studying are given to you. This is a one/two year course. In order to gain the award you will need to successfully complete ▪ A pass in all assignments You will also be studying ▪ Functional English ▪ Functional Maths You will also attend work experience one day a week. This will be arranged by Vicky Markham. Vocational areas will be Sport, Performing Arts, Catering, Construction, Motor Vehicle & Media depending on availability. Teaching The teaching is carried out by qualified and experienced professionals. In the classroom the teaching is a mix of formal lessons and individual research; role plays, discussion and group work. Learners have access to study support service and are encouraged to work at their own pace. The responsibility of achievement rests with you. PLAGIARISM The use of other people’s work and the submission of it as though it was your own is known as plagiarism (plagiarism means theft of other people’s ideas). Any work forming part of an assignment, project, test or other assessment must be your own and must not contain any plagiarised material. Evidence of plagiarism will result in failure of the assessment. Any new assessment arrangement will be given with a strict completion date. You will also be subject to the College’s disciplinary proceedings.
If you wish to quote material from a textbook or other source then this should be referenced in your assignment. Your subject lecturer or Personal Tutor will show you how to do this.
PROGRESS REPORTING Learner review Learner reviews are held at Priory School. These reviews will include the learner, parents/carers and any outside agencies that provide support for the learner. The courses for next year will be discussed and decisions will be made as to where progression is best. Reports Subject reviews are compiled and forwarded so that they are completed for the above reviews. These are written by everyone who will teach. The review will include progressions made and general comments about behaviour etc. ATTENDANCE Learners are required to attend ALL CLASSES and tutorials timetabled with a minimum attendance of 94%. Make non-urgent appointments for doctors/dentists and holidays out of College hours. Attendance is monitored by registration on a session basis. ATTENDANCE MONITORING We want you to be successful on your course and to achieve your qualifications. It is therefore important that you attend all classes as good attendance is the key to being successful. The Attendance Monitor will work with you and your Tutors to promote good attendance. What will they do? offer support if you are having problems which affect your attendance refer you to Learner Services who can help with a range of personal problems and barriers to learning and attendance refer you to your Tutor who will discuss your attendance and take action where appropriate What can you do? Avoid unnecessary absences, for example, by making appointments outside College hours Inform the Attendance Monitor if you are going to be absent for any reason Telephone (01205) 365701, option 2, or e-mail absent@boston.ac.uk, or text “BCABSENT” to 88020. Texts are charged at standard network rate. This information is also on the back of your ID badge Please remember to give your name, ID number and reason for absence The Attendance Monitor is: Gail Bevan
Requirement Punctuality is vitally important. Learners are expected to attend classes on time. Visits/work experience Throughout your course you may be offered visits to places of interest to enhance your study. Educational visits are usually subsidised by Boston College, however, you may be expected to contribute. Financial Assistance If you have financial difficulties you can apply for help from the College Bursary Fund, 19+ Learner Support Fund or 24+ Advanced Learning Loans Bursary Fund. This may help to meet the costs of: 1 2 3 4 5 6
Travel Books and equipment (16-18, 19+ only) Food (16-18, 19+ only) Specialist clothing required for your course (16-18, 19+ only) Childcare costs whilst at College (19+ and 24+ only) Exams/tuition costs (19+ only)
Some learners aged 16-18 are guaranteed help from the Bursary Fund – this includes: learners living in care recent care leavers learners receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right learners receiving Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment in their own right. For further details please check with Learner Services staff.
Childcare If you are under 20, you may qualify for Care to Learn payments for childcare costs. Please go to Learner Services for more information, or contact Care to Learn on 0845 600 7979 or visit the website at www.gov.uk/caretolearn
SUPPORT SERVICES The College Mission Statement The College Mission Statement describes the type of College we provide for all our learners and staff. ‘to be a brilliant college that transforms people’s lives and makes an outstanding contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of Lincolnshire’. All learners at the College attend voluntarily so there is not a set of ‘College Rules’. We do however have a range of policies which describe the standards we expect and what we offer in return. To access all the learner related policies and procedures please look on Moodle, or ask your Personal Tutor for details. SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT Boston College places a high priority on the safety and wellbeing of our learners. We are committed to creating and maintaining a friendly, welcoming and safe working environment for all young people and vulnerable adults, whether learning is taking place on or off College premises. We have a duty to safeguard all learners, and we will respond immediately if there is a concern that a learner might be the victim of bullying, harassment, abuse or neglect. All staff are trained in safeguarding and there is a designated specialist Safeguarding Team to help with any concerns you might have about your own or someone else’s safety. If you need to contact the Safeguarding Team please go to:
Main reception Learner Services The ‘Stay Safe’ button on Moodle E-mail staysafe@boston.ac.uk
If you need to contact someone out of College hours about safeguarding contact:
Children’s Social Care on 01522 782333 In an emergency situation dial 999 and call the police
An important part of safeguarding is making sure only authorised people are on our College premises. Please help us with this by carrying your ID badge at all times and showing it if asked by a member of College staff. At Boston College we respect everyone within the College community. We also emphasise respect for personal property and for the facilities of the College. We therefore, expect learners to work with us to create an environment where everyone feels safe and valued and can work to achieve their full potential.
COLLEGE CALENDAR 2013/2014 2013 September 2nd September 3rd September 26th October 3rd October 8th October 10th October 16th October 21st – 25th October 29th October 30th & 31st November 5th November 7th November 14th November 15th December 19th
Autumn term starts. Learner Services Induction week Spalding Enrolment Higher Education Fair at BCUC HE Parents’ Briefing ‘Going to University’ BCUC Spalding College in Action Boston College in Action Volunteer Fair at BCUC Half term HE Open Event Parents’ evenings School Taster day Boston College in Action Spalding College in Action Closing date for UCAS applications (internal) End of Autumn term
2014 January 6th January 23rd February 6th February 11th February 17th - 21st March 3rd - 7th March 4th & 5th April 4th April 22nd May 5th May 26th June 10th June 12th June 26th
Spring term starts HE Open Event Boston College in Action Spalding College in Action Half term for learners Careers week Parents’ evenings End of Spring term Summer term starts Bank Holiday Bank Holiday Spalding Open Event (Information) Boston Open Evening (Information) Summer term ends
Note Any learner taking holidays outside of holiday periods will be considered absent from the course. Learners receiving support from the College Bursary Fund need to be aware that they will not be paid for holiday periods taken outside the academic breaks.
POLICIES At the College we have a range of policies detailing what the College will offer you and how we ensure high standards are maintained. To access the policies click on the links below. If this is not possible please ask your Tutor to provide you with a copy. Admissions Assessment and Examinations Assessment Malpractice Bullying and Harassment Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Car Parking for Residential Learners Compliments & Complaints Procedure Computer Services Unit: Code of Conduct and Practice and Equality Impact Assessment Coursework / Self Study Drugs and Alcohol Financial Support for Learners Functional Skills Hall of Residence Disciplinary / Sanctions Higher Education Admissions Induction Code of Practice Information, Guidance and Support International Student Late Enrolment Learner Attendance Learner Disciplinary Policy and Procedure for Further Education Learners Mobile Electronic Equipment Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Safeguarding Learners Skills for Life and Learning Support Tutorial – Full Time Learners – Appendix 1 Weapons and Search Work Experience Equality and Diversity – see our page on Moodle Examination Policy Students Copy Important Exams Information for Candidates Access arrangements – General Access arrangements – International Students Examination Clashes Conduct of Exams Internal Appeals Procedure – Students Copy Appeals Procedure – Externally Marked Exams
Boston College Skirbeck Road BOSTON Lincs PE21 6JF